Cannizzaro Reaction Mechanism - Overview, Steps, Scope, Uses & Applications, FAQs

The Cannizzaro reaction is a disproportionation process in which two molecules of an aldehyde combine with a hydroxide base to generate a primary alcohol and a carboxylic acid. This is exemplified in the example of benzaldehyde which creates benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid. And disproportion is a redox reaction in which a mid-oxidation chemical transforms into two distinct compounds, one high and the other low.

Cannizzaro reaction examples include vanilline, benzaldehyde, syringaldehyde and formaldehyde, which are lacking active hydrogen. They are subjected to a strong base (NaOH) intramolecular and intermolecular oxidation process to create a carboxylic acid and alcohol molecule

Cannizzaro reaction mechanism:

Cannizzaro reaction mechanism describes in detail the way of obtaining one alcohol molecule and one carboxylic acid molecule from two aldehyde molecules. Scientist Stanislao Cannizzaro, benzyl alcohol and potassium benzoate were acquired from benzaldehyde in 1853. An aldehyde is replaced by nucleophile acyl in the leaving group where the other aldehyde is attacked. The consequence of a hydroxide attack on a carbonyl is a tetrahedral intermediate. This intermediate tetrahedral collapses and reforms the carbonyl and moves a hydride that assaults another colony.

Now, an acid-and-alcoholic ion proton is swapped. The aldehyde generates an anion with a charge of 2 if a base with high concentration is supplied. A hydride ion, which is made of carboxylate and alcohol, is transmitted to a second molecule of the aldehyde. The alcohol ion additionally acquires a proton for the reaction from the solvent.

Step by step mechanism of Cannizzaro reaction

Step 1: A nucleophile, as hydroxide, is utilised to attack the group of carbonyl in the aldehyde in question, which causes a disproportionate reaction and leads to a two negative charges carrying anion.

Step 2: This intermediate product can now work as a reduction in hydride. The intermediate releases a hydride anion because of its unstable nature. This anion hydride attacks another molecule of aldehyde. Now, the doubly charged anion becomes an anion for carboxylate and the aldehyde becomes anion for alcohol.

Step 3: In this final stage, water provides the alcohol anion with a proton that creates the final alcohol product. The reaction might take place because the alcohol is basic rather than water. Now, when acid is utilised, the carboxylate ion creates the ultimate product of carboxylic acid (the acid workup is required since carboxylate is less basic than water and therefore cannot obtain a proton from water).

In general, the response follows kinetics in the third order. In aldehyde it is second and in basic it is first:

Temporary = k[RCHO]²[OH⁻]

A second way (k') is necessary for very high foundations, which is second order in base:

Temporary rate = k[RCHO]

2[RCHO] + k'[OH⁻]²

A reaction involving doubly charged anion (RCHO₂²⁻) and aldehyde is involved in the k' trajectory. Direct transmission of hydride ions is obvious from the finding that no deuterium is bound to the α-carbon in the recuperated alcohol when the reaction is carried out when D₂O occurs.

Crossed reaction of Cannizzaro

Crossed Cannizzaro reaction is not unexpected that only 50% of the alcohol and carboxylic acid necessary in the optimal conditions is produced by the reaction. Therefore, the crossover reaction of Cannizzaro is more widely utilised. Sacrificial aldehyde and a more valuable molecule are mixed, and sodium oxidation is reduced by formaldehyde. Reduction of other aldehyde chemicals obtains the necessary alcohol. The yield of the useful chemistry is boosted when two separate aldehydes can be fully transformed into the needed product. Finally, it can be utilised to disproportionate a non-enolizable aldehyde with the Cannizzaro reaction. The reaction from the cross cannizzaro reaction is used to boost the yield of the precious product.

Scope of Cannizzaro reaction:

Aldehydes with alpha hydrogen atom(s) have been decongested, causing enolates and potential aldol reactions, due to very alkaline reactions. The process only yields 50% alcohol and carboxylic acid under optimal conditions (it takes two aldehydes to produce one acid and one alcohol). In order to prevent low yields, the crossing Cannizzaro reaction, which combines sacrificial aldehyde with a more valuable molecule, can be conducted more frequently.

In this variant, formaldehyde is the reducer that is oxidised to formate sodium while alcohol is reduced to the other aldehyde molecule. In this case, one aldehyde can be converted to its matching product fully, instead of losing 50% of a single reactant for each of two products. Therefore, while the atomic economy is still low, the valuable chemical's output is high.

There has been a solvent-free process, including the grinding of fluid 2-chlorobenzaldehyde in a mortar and pestle by potassium hydroxide:

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Cannizzaro reaction applications

In the industry, polyols are made via the combination of crossed Cannizzaro reactions and aldol condensation. Polyols are very valuable and they have numerous industrial uses.

• For the production of resins in the aeroplane or on board, varnish coatings, synthetic lubricants and plasticizers, Neopentyl glycol is employed in polyesters. The structure of neopentyl provides high light, heat and hydrolysis resistance.

• As a raw ingredient, pentaerythritol is explosive in the varnish industry. Some esters of pentaerythritol are utilised as oil additives, plastifying agents and emulsifiers with higher fatty acids.

• In a number of applications, Trimethylolpropane is employed for alkaline resin and polyester and polyurethane preparation as replacement glycerine.

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