Cannizzaro Reaction for Aldehyde Redox

The Cannizzaro reaction is a base-promoted redox reaction for nonenolizable aldehydes. It turns two aldehyde molecules into a primary alcohol and a carboxylic acid. A nonenolizable aldehyde is one that cannot form an enol under the reaction conditions.

The reaction begins when the anionic form of...

The Cannizzaro reaction is a redox process producing an alcohol and a carboxylic acid from two aldehyde molecules in the presence of a base.

The reaction is specific with nonenolizable aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes that contain no α hydrogens.

Aldehydes bearing α hydrogens, under basic conditions, often undergo deprotonation to g...