Single crystals of 4, 4'-dimethylbenzophenone (DMBP) were successfully grown for the first time by slow evaporation method at constant temperature of 35 degrees C with dimensions 41 x 12 x 8 mm(3). The solubility and metastable zone width were found in xylene. The unit-cell parameters were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The crystalline perfection was analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) rocking curve measurements. H-1 and C-13 Fr-NMR were recorded to elucidate the molecular structure. FT-IR study has been performed to identify the functional groups. The optical transmittance window and the lower cutoff wavelength of the DMBP have been identified by UV-vis-NIR studies. Thermo gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis have also been carried out, and the thermal behavior of DMBP crystal has been studied. The dielectric measurements were made both as function of frequency and temperature. The powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of DMBP is comparable with KDP. The mechanical behavior of the specimen was also studied. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.