Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

4,4'-Dihydroxybenzophenone

4,4′-Dihydroxybenzophenone is an organic compound with the formula (HOC6H4)2CO. This off-white solid is a precursor to, or a degradation product of, diverse commercial materials. It is a potential endocrine disruptor.

Last revised
Jun 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
366 w
Citations
2
Source
4,4′-Dihydroxybenzophenone
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Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone
Other names
Benzophenone, 4,4′-dihydroxy-(7Cl,8Cl); 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ketone; Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) ketone; HBP; HBP (ketone); NSC
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.009.354
EC Number
  • 210-288-1
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C13H10O3/c14-11-5-1-9(2-6-11)13(16)10-3-7-12(15)8-4-10/h1-8,14-15H checkY
    Key: RXNYJUSEXLAVNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C13H10O3/c14-11-5-1-9(2-6-11)13(16)10-3-7-12(15)8-4-10/h1-8,14-15H
    Key: RXNYJUSEXLAVNQ-UHFFFAOYAR
  • O=C(c1ccc(O)cc1)c2ccc(O)cc2
Properties
C13H10O3
Molar mass 214.22 g/mol
Appearance Off white/yellow solid
Density 1.302g/cm3
Melting point 213 to 215 °C (415 to 419 °F; 486 to 488 K)
Boiling point 444.8 °C (832.6 °F; 718.0 K) @760mmHg
0.45 g/L
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H315, H317, H319, H335
P261, P264, P271, P272, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P333+P313, P337+P313, P362, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501
Flash point 237 °C (459 °F; 510 K)
Safety data sheet (SDS) MSDS by Fisher Scientific
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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4,4′-Dihydroxybenzophenone is an organic compound with the formula (HOC6H4)2CO. This off-white solid is a precursor to, or a degradation product of, diverse commercial materials. It is a potential endocrine disruptor.1

Synthesis

4,4′-Dihydroxybenzophenone is prepared by the rearrangement of p-hydroxyphenylbenzoate:

HOC6H4CO2C6H5 → (HOC6H4)2CO

Alternatively, p-hydroxybenzoic acid can be converted to p-acetoxybenzoyl chloride. This acid chloride reacts with phenol to give, after deacetylation, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone.

Uses

The main application of 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone is as a UV light stabilizer. It and its derivatives are found in cosmetics, plastics, films, adhesives and coatings, optical fiber, and printed circuit boards. It is the precursor to certain polycarbonate polymers.2

References

References

  1. Eddine, Ali Nasser; von Kries, Jens P.; Podust, Mikhail V.; Warrier, Thulasi; Kaufmann, Stefan H. E.; Podust, Larissa M. (2008). "X-ray structure of 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone mimicking sterol substrate in the active site of sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51)". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283 (22): 15152–15159. doi:10.1074/jbc.M801145200. PMC 2397474. PMID 18367444. S2CID 22025443.
  2. David Parker, Jan Bussink, Hendrik T. van de Grampe, Gary W. Wheatley, Ernst-Ulrich Dorf, Edgar Ostlinning, Klaus Reinking "Polymers, High-Temperature" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002.doi:10.1002/14356007.a21_449