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Cannizzaro reaction
Concepts tested here
- Disproportionation of aldehydes without alpha-hydrogen
All Questions
2012 AIPMT-PRE 1 question
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Predict the products in the given reaction:
m-Chlorobenzaldehyde has no α-hydrogen, so with concentrated (50%) KOH it undergoes the Cannizzaro reaction.
One molecule is oxidised to the salt of the acid and another is reduced to the alcohol.
$2\,m\text{-}ClC_6H_4CHO \xrightarrow{50\%\ KOH} m\text{-}ClC_6H_4COO^-K^+ + m\text{-}ClC_6H_4CH_2OH$
The Cl on the ring is not replaced. The products are m-chlorobenzyl alcohol and the m-chlorobenzoate ion.