The invention discloses a cheap and efficient synthesis method of an alpha-hydroxyketone compound. The synthesis method is characterized in that a carbonyl compound undergoes an oxidation hydroxylation reaction at 10-120DEG C under normal pressure with iodine simple substance, N-bromosuccimide, copper bromide, bromine simple substance, hydrogen bromide, N-iodosuccimide or hydrogen iodide as a catalyst, sulfoxide as an oxidant, water or sulfoxide as a hydroxy source and sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, N,N-dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dichloroethane, tetrahydrofuran or H2O as a solvent, and converts into the alpha-hydroxyketone compound in a high selectivity manner. Compared with traditional synthesis methods, the method disclosed in the invention has the advantages of simple operation, high yield, simple conditions, easy purification, small waste discharge amount, simple reaction apparatus, and easy industrial production. The method has wide applicability and can be used for synthesizing various alpha-hydroxyketone compounds.