Question

Aldehyde not containing $\alpha$-hydrogen atom reacts with conc. alkali to form :-

• A. an $\alpha ,\beta$ unsaturated aldehyde.
• B. an $\alpha ,\beta$ unsaturated acid.
• C. Corresponding alcohol and corresponding carboxylate anion.
• D. Corresponding carboxylic acid.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Corresponding alcohol and corresponding carboxylate anion.

Aldehyde not containing alpha-hydrogen atom reacts with conc. alkali to form corresponding alcohol and corresponding carboxylate anion.

The reaction is known as cannizzaro reaction. It is a self redox reaction. One molecule of aldehyde is oxidized to carboxylic acid and another molecule of aldehyde is reduced to alcohol.

$2RCHO\stackrel{NaOH}{\to }RCOONa+RC{H}_{2}OH$