--- title: "Cannizzaro reaction Template – Chemistry Diagram | MolDraw" url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/cannizzaro-reaction/ description: "Cannizzaro reaction template: Hydroxide adds to benzaldehyde, the adduct transfers hydride to a second benzaldehyde and a proton swap gives benzoate and…" lang: en publisher: Scidart Academy generated: 2026-10-28 --- [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [Templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) › [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/) › Cannizzaro reaction [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/)Premium # Cannizzaro reaction template ![Cannizzaro reaction template: Hydroxide adds to benzaldehyde, the adduct transfers hydride to a second benzaldehyde and a proton swap gives benzoate and benzyl alcohol.](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/cannizzaro-reaction.webp) [Edit in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)Download with Pro Premium template. Preview and edit it free in MolDraw; downloading and exporting it is part of [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing). Hydroxide adds to benzaldehyde, the adduct transfers hydride to a second benzaldehyde and a proton swap gives benzoate and benzyl alcohol. ## Mechanism step by step An aldehyde with no α-H disproportionates in strong base: one is oxidised, one reduced 1. **Hydroxide adds** – Tetrahedral intermediate 2. **Hydride transfer** – C–H moves as H⁻ to a second aldehyde 3. **Proton transfer** – The acid protonates the alkoxide ## Key points - Only aldehydes without α-H (HCHO, PhCHO, (CH₃)₃CCHO): others undergo aldol reactions. - Rate depends on [aldehyde]² and [OH⁻]: hydride transfer is the slow step. - Crossed Cannizzaro: formaldehyde is oxidised, reducing the other aldehyde. - Acidifying the mixture turns benzoate into benzoic acid. Drawn with 121 atoms, 11 arrows, 5 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw. ## Sources - [Cannizzaro, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1853, 88, 129](https://doi.org/10.1002/jlac.18530880114) Original paper - [Kürti & Czakó, Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis, Elsevier 2005](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780124297852) Textbook - [Smith, March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, 8th ed., Wiley 2020](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119371809) Textbook ## How to use this template 1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor. 2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need. 3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page. 4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Cannizzaro reaction template free? You can preview the Cannizzaro reaction template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates. ### Can I edit the Cannizzaro reaction template? Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it. ### Is the chemistry checked? Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page. ### Which name reactions are included? Over seventy, covering the reactions most often asked in school-leaving exams (A-level, IB, CBSE, JEE and NEET) and first-year university courses, including condensations, rearrangements, oxidations, reductions and aromatic substitutions. ## More name reactions templates [**Fischer esterification**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/fischer-esterification/)[**Grignard addition to a ketone**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/grignard-addition/)[**Michael addition**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/michael-addition/)[**Diels–Alder reaction**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/diels-alder/)[**Friedel–Crafts acylation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/friedel-crafts-acylation/)[**Claisen condensation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/claisen-condensation/)[**Friedel–Crafts alkylation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/friedel-crafts-alkylation/)[**Williamson ether synthesis**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/williamson-ether-synthesis/) ## Related pages [**Cannizzaro reaction: reaction guide**Mechanism, conditions and exam notes](https://www.moldraw.com/reaction/cannizzaro-reaction/)[**Curved Arrow Mechanism Worksheet**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/curved-arrow-mechanism-worksheet/)[**Predict the Product Worksheet: Organic Reactions**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/predict-the-product-worksheet/)[**All Name reactions templates**72 templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/)[**All chemistry templates**370 templates in 29 categories](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) MolDraw Pro Download all 370 templates - Export the 291 premium templates as PNG, SVG or PDF - AI chemistry assistant - Structure scanning from images - Cloud save and teaching slides [See Pro plans](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing) Free templates stay free. Every template can be opened and edited in MolDraw.