Cannizzaro reaction
chemistry
Quick Summary
The Cannizzaro reaction is a chemical process involving aldehydes that lack an alpha-hydrogen. When treated with a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide, half of the aldehyde molecules are oxidized to a carboxylic acid, while the other half are reduced to a primary alcohol. This reaction is named after the Italian chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro. Aldehydes are reactive organic compounds due to their polar carbonyl group, and they can undergo various transformations, including oxidation and reduction.12
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