Benzilic acid	Methyl benzilate
Structure
Appearance	White powder	White powder
Molecular Formula	C14H12O3	C15H14O3
Molecular Weight	228	242.3
Melting Point	150-152°C	73-76°C
Boiling Point	180°C	187°C (reduced pressure)
Liquid Density	n/a	n/a
Vapor Density	n/a	n/a
Vapor pressure	n/a	n/a
Not flammable

Also refer to 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2000) Guide: no specific reference.

Health Hazards

Benzilic acid and methyl benzilate are considered harmful and dangerous if swallowed. They are not completely characterized in terms of their toxicologies but reasonable care: use of protective clothing and eyewear and thorough washing after use, are recommended. Like many other small organic compounds, the fumes given off by burning may be dangerous.

Risk and Safety Phrases.

INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL USES

Benzilic acid and methyl benzilate have a limited number of uses. Their main use is in the manufacture of glycollate pharmaceuticals including Clidinium, Dilantin, and Flutropium. These are used as antagonists of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

COMMENTS

The chemical weapons use of these compounds is in the manufactured of the incapacitating agent BZ. Benzilic acid is manufactured in small quantities for the preparation of a small number of pharmaceuticals and is described as a fine or specialty chemical (or more informally as a boutique chemical.) In addition to regulation under the Chemical Weapons Convention, benzilic acid and methyl benzilate are also monitored by law enforcement communities because of their use in the manufacture in hallucinogenic drugs. Synthesis of benzilic acid is unfortunately fairly straightforward, if a little incestuous, and uses benzaldehyde as a relatively inexpensive starting material. Benzaldehyde is a major aroma component of almond oil and is used artificial almond flavorings. It is about 100-fold cheaper than benzilic acid. Benzaldehyde first of all reacts with itself (a dimerization) to form benzil. Benzil can then undergo a rearrangement reaction, the benzil-benzilic acid rearrangement, to form benzilic acid. The reaction is historically interesting because it was the first demonstrated case of a rearrangement. Methyl benzilate can be prepared by the reaction of benzilic acid and methanol.