Benzanilide is the organic compound with the formula C6H5C(O)NHC6H5. It is a white solid. Commercially available, it may be prepared by treating benzoic acid with aniline.
Benzanilide synthesis through amide bond formation was effectively carried out by palladium-doped clay catalyst using microwave irradiation under solvent-free conditions. Products were obtained with excellent yield in very short reaction time and only a small amount of the catalyst was used.
The ordinary "pure" aniline of commerce gives as good yields and as pure a product as redistilled aniline. The benzanilide must be finely ground in order that aniline and benzoic acid may be completely extracted.
Insertion of benzoyl moiety instead of an active hydrogen atom present in hydroxyl (OH) primary amino (NH2) or secondary amino group (NH) is usually termed as benzoylation reaction.
