The enzyme benzoin aldolase (EC 4.1.2.38) catalyzes the chemical reaction:

2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone^[1] ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ 2 benzaldehyde

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the aldehyde-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of benzoin is indeed is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase (benzaldehyde-forming)—the systematic name of benzoin is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone. Other names in common use include benzaldehyde lyase, and 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase. This enzyme employs one cofactor: thiamin diphosphate.

As of late 2007, 3 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 2AG0, 2AG1, and 2UZ1.

• Gonzalez B, Vicuna R (1989). "Benzaldehyde lyase, a novel thiamine PPi-requiring enzyme, from Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar I". J. Bacteriol. 171 (5): 2401–5. doi:10.1128/jb.171.5.2401-2405.1989. PMC 209914. PMID 2496105.
• Peng M, Siebert D, Engqvist M, Niemeyer C, Rabe K (2021). "Modeling-Assisted Design of Thermostable Benzaldehyde Lyases from Rhodococcus erythropolis for Continuous Production of α-Hydroxy Ketones". ChemBioChem. 23 (7): 2401–2405. doi:10.1002/cbic.202100468. PMC 209914. PMID 2496105.