This results in the central carbonyl carbon atom being electrophilic and the two adjacent carbon atoms slightly nucleophilic.

For this reason, dibenzyl ketone is frequently used in an aldol condensation reaction with benzil (a dicarbonyl) and base to create tetraphenylcyclopentadienone.

Vera Bogdanovskaia is credited with the classification of dibenzyl ketone.

The resultant liquid is a mixture of dibenzyl ketone and minor impurities.

Heating the mixture above 200−205 °C leads to resinification with a decrease in the yield of the ketone.