Cannizzaro reaction
This redox disproportionation of non-enolizable aldehydes to carboxylic acids and alcohols is conducted in concentration base.a-Keto aldehydes give the product of an intramolecular disproportionation in excellent yeilds.
Mechanism of cannizaro Reaction
An interesting variant, the crossed cannizzaro Reaction , uses formaldehyde as reducing agent :
All the presnt time, various oxidizing and reducing agents can be used to carry out such conversation (with higher yeilds) , so that today the Cannizzaro reaction has limited synthetic utility except for the above-mentioned conversation of a-Keto aldehydes.
The canizzaro reaction should be kept in mind as a source of potential side products when aldehydes are treated under basic conditions.
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