In order to obtain certain derivatives of a-diketones the authors investigated the catalytic reduction of benzils. The usual methods given in the literature are difficult and give poor yields. Five benzils were selected as starting materials: benzil made by the oxidation of benzoin with nitricacid; 2 anisil derived from anisoin after the method of BO~ ler;~ piperil made from piperoin by oxidation with Fehling's solution; 4 veratril, obtained by oxidizing ...