Identify the following reaction

CONCEPT:

Cannizzaro Reaction

• The Cannizzaro reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the base-induced disproportionation of an aldehyde lacking an alpha hydrogen atom.
• In this reaction, one molecule of the aldehyde is reduced to the corresponding alcohol, while another molecule is oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid.

EXPLANATION:

• In the given reaction:

  2 R-CHO + NaOH → R-CH₂OH + R-COONa

• • In the presence of a strong base like NaOH, two molecules of the aldehyde react.
  • One aldehyde molecule is reduced to the corresponding alcohol (R-CH₂OH).
  • The other aldehyde molecule is oxidized to the corresponding carboxylate ion (R-COONa).

Therefore, the given reaction is an example of the Cannizzaro reaction.