Konnitzaro Reaction In the beginning we should know it is Konnitzaro Reaction? Konnitzaro Reaction mechanism details the method to get one molecule of alcohol and one molecule of carboxylic acid from two molecules of a given aldehyde. The reaction is executed by a nucleophilic acid substitution on an aldehyde where the leaving group attacks another aldehyde. A tetrahedral intermediate results from the attack of hydroxide on a carbonyl. Step number one. A nucleophile such as a hydroxide ion is used to attack the carbonyl group of the given aldehyde, causing the disproportionation reaction and giving rise to an anion carrying two negative charges. Step number two. This resulting intermediate can now function as a hydride reducing agent. Due to its unstable nature, the intermediate releases a hydride anion. This hydride anion proceeds to attack another aldehyde molecule. Now, the doubly charged anion is converted into a carboxylic anion and the aldehyde is converted into an alkoxide anion. Step number three. In this final step, water offers a proton to the alkoxide anion which gives rise to the final alcohol product. The reaction can proceed since the alkoxide is more basic than water. Now, the carboxylet ion gives rise to the final carboxylic acid product when acid workup is used. The acid workup is required since carboxylet is less basic than water and therefore cannot obtain a proton from water.