Benzilic acid

Benzilic acid is an organic compound with formula C14H12O3 or (C6H5)2(HO)C(COOH).

It is a white crystalline aromatic acid, soluble in many primary alcohols.

[2] Benzilic acid is used in the manufacture of glycollate pharmaceuticals including clidinium, dilantin, flutropium, and mepenzolate which are antagonists of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

It is used in manufacture of the incapacitating agent 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (BZ) which is regulated by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

It is also monitored by law enforcement agencies of many countries, because of its use in the manufacture in hallucinogenic drugs.

Skeletal formula of benzilic acid
Ball-and-stick model of the benzilic acid molecule
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroform Flammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oil Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no code