Single crystals of a novel organic material, dimethylaminobenzophenone were grown from aqueous solution employing the technique of controlled evaporation. Dimethylaminobenzophenone belongs to the monoclinic system. with a = 12.5755(7) angstrom, b = 7.9749(4) angstrom, c = 13.0946(7) angstrom, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 111.6380(10)degrees and gamma = 90 degrees. Fourier transform infrared study has been performed to identify the functional groups. The transmittance of dimethylaminobenzophenone has been used to calculate the refractive index n: the extinction coefficient K and both the real epsilon(r) and imaginary epsilon(i) components of the dielectric constant as functions of photon energy. The optical band gap of dimethylaminobenzophenone is 2.9 eV. The structural prefection of the grown crystals has been analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction rocking curve measurements. Thermo gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis have also been carried out, and the thermal behavior of dimethylaminobenzophenone crystal has been studied. The dielectric properties and mechanical properties have been investigated. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.