Final answer:
Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) is a reducing agent that can convert benzophenone to diphenyl methanol via nucleophilic addition followed by protonation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aside from sodium borohydride, one reducing agent that can reduce benzophenone to diphenyl methanol is lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4).
The mechanism involves a nucleophilic addition where hydride ions from LiAlH4 attack the carbonyl carbon of benzophenone. This step forms an alkoxide intermediate, which upon protonation with a weak acid such as water or an alcohol, yields diphenyl methanol.
Lithium aluminum hydride is more reactive than NaBH4 and is capable of reducing a wider range of carbonyl compounds, including carboxylic acid derivatives.