CANNIZZARO REACTION

In the presence of concentrated alkali, aldehydes

containing no α - Hydrogen undergo self oxidation
& reduction (Redox) reaction to yield a mixture of
an alcohol ( Carbinol ) & a salt of carboxylic acid.

O O OH
-
OH
2 R C H R C O R C H
concentrated
H
carboxylate
anion alcohol
Examples:
 MECHANISM OF THE REACTION
1st Mechanism:
O O
carbonyl-hydroxide
R C H OH C
Step I R
H
OH
anion
aldehyde-hydroxide
conc. adduct
1st aldehyde
molecule alkali

Tetrahedral intermediate
intermediate I

O O O O

R C H C C C
R OH R H R OH
H H
Step II 2nd aldehyde intermediate I
molecule

OH O
C C
R H R O
H
salt of
alcohol
carboxylic acid
2nd Mechanism :
Step I Generation of Intermediate I .

Step II OH OH OH OH H

R C H R C H R C R C O

O O O H

intermediate I intermediate I
H
O
R C R C OH

O H

How can you prove that the H comes from

another equivalent of aldehyde and not from the
medium, ( i.e. Involvement of a hydride shift in
the mechanism of Cannizzaro reaction) ?
 H.W.
3rd Mechanism

If the oxidant alde. differs from the reductant

alde. the reaction is Crossed Cannizzaro Reaction.

If one of the aldehydes is formaldehyde , the

reaction yields almost exclusively a salt of formic
acid and the alcohol corresponding to the
other aldehyde.
O O O OH
-
OH
R C H H C H H C O R C H

formaldehyde formate H
anion alcohol
 Aldehydes or ketones with an α – hydrogen undergo
Aldol Condensation ( carbonyl condensation reaction )
faster under the influence of dilute base or acid.
O H O OH H O
-
OH
H 3C C H H C C H H 3C C C C
H
H H H
Acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde 3- hydroxy-butanol

-
OH
Propanal
-
?
OH
Acetone ?
Name of Experiment : Cannizzaro Reaction.
Aim of Experiment :Synthesis of Benzoic acid &
Benzyl alcohol
Principals :
Both benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol can be prepared in
the laboratory by Cannizzaro Reaction , by the
action of concentrated NaOH or KOH on benzaldehyde.

O O O H
KOH
C H C H conce. C O K C OH
Benzaldehyde Benzaldehyde
H
Potassium benzoate Benzyl alcohol
Benzoic Acid:
C7H6O2 , C6H5COOH
Molar mass = 122.12 g / mol, Melting point = 121 – 123 oC.
Colorless plate or needle like crystals.
Sparingly soluble in water but soluble in hot or boiled water.
Reacts with NaHCO3 to give CO2 gas.
Used as preservative and antiseptic.

Benzyl Alcohol :
C7H8O , C6H5CH2OH .
Molar mass = 108.14 g / mol , Boiling point = 204 – 207 oC
Colorless oily liquid. Volatile with steam.
Immiscible with water but completely miscible with alcohols
& organic solvents.
Has some local anesthetic properties so used in injectibles
and in ointment as antipruretic & antiseptic.
Part I SYNTHESIS :
 Part II
Isolation of Benzoic acid & Benzyl
Alcohol :
1- Add 30 ml of H2O to ensure complete dissolve
of Pot. Benzoate.
2- Pour the liquid to a separatory funnel.
3- Add 20 ml ether to the reagent bottle & shake.
4- Add this ether to the liquid in the separatory
funnel.
5- Shake well for 2 min. & stand.
 ? Give the reason for shaking the ethereal
layer with saturated Sodium bisulfite solution in
our experiment today ?
To get rid of excess unreacted benzaldehyde which
may be present.
O O Na OH
Na HSO3
C H C H C H

SO3H SO3 Na

? Why we add Na2CO3 to the ethereal

layer after that?
To get rid of any excess unreacted Sodium bisulfite.

Na2CO3 + 2 NaHSO3 CO2 + H2O + 2 Na2SO3

excess
Post Lab Exercises :

? How would propanal react with KOH under

the condition of this experiment ?
Answer the same question for the reaction of
2,2-dimethylpropanal.

? In the presence of alkali , Acetaldehyde

undergoes a mixed aldol condensation with
formaldehyde, followed by a crossed Cannizzaro
reaction , to produce the tetra alcohol penta -
erythritol, C(CH2OH)4 , write the equations .
 ? In the benzilic acid rearrangement , the
diketone benzil is converted by NaOH into the salt
of benzilic acid. If sodium methoxide (CH3O Na) is
used instead of NaOH, the ester C6H5)2C(OH)COOCH3
is obtained. Suggest a possible mechanism for this
rearrangement.

?4- When o- phthalaldehyde is treated with base,

o- (hydroxymethyl) benzoic acid is formed. Show the
mechanism of this reaction.
CHO CO2H
-
1. OH
+
2. H3O
CHO CH2OH
o-Phthalaldehyde o-(Hydroxymethyl)
benzoic acid