It was first prepared by treatment of benzaldehyde with chlorine. the method was early for production of benzoyl chloride involved chlorination of benzyl alcohol.
Benzoyl chloride was made from benzotrichloride using either water or benzoic acid.
CHCCl + CHCOH → 2 CHCOCl + HCl As with other acyl chlorides, it can be generated from the parent acid and other chlorinating agents phosphorus pentachloride or thionyl chloride.