Bromamine T (BAT) oxidises diphenylmethanol and substituted diphenylmethanols smoothly and quantitatively to the respective benzophenones in aquoeus acetic acid. Mineral acids catalyse the reaction and the rate law is found to be â d[BAT]/dt=k[BAT][Alcohol][H⁺]. The reaction is characterised by the absence of any kinetic isotope effect and a break in the Hammett plot with Ï values of â 4.2 and â 0.4 for the two limbs. Three alternative mechanistic pathways have been proposed involving (i) diphenylmethyl cation, (ii) a â phenonium ionâ type intermediate from the decomposition of the alkyl hypobromite ester, or (iii)ipso substitution at the benzene ring followed by dehydrobromination and aromatization.