Benadryl’s Backbone: Making Benzhydrol From Benzil (3 Classic Reactions)

In this video I take you step by step through the synthesis of benzhydrol, the molecular core behind Benadryl and many other pharmaceuticals. Starting from benzil, we perform a benzilic acid rearrangement, a decarboxylation, and a sodium borohydride reduction to transform it into pure benzhydrol. This experiment showcases how simple organic transformations build complex molecules that appear across drug design, from antihistamines to anticonvulsants. If you are studying organic chemistry or learning multi step synthesis, this video will guide you through practical lab work while explaining the chemistry behind every reaction. Links: SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/c/WheelerScie... Discord ►   / discord   Instagram ►   / wheelerscientific   eBay ► https://www.ebay.com/usr/wheelerscien... References and uses: Burned in video at (01:37) - Procedures adapted from: Adams, R., Johnson, J. R., & Wilcox, C. F. (1979). Laboratory experiments in Organic Chemistry. Macmillan. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Benzil to Benzilic Acid 10:11 Benzophenone from Benzilic Acid 16:06 Benzhydrol 20:06 Analysis Thanks for watching!