Benzaldehyde can be converted to benzyl alcohol by –

Options

A. HCl
B. NaOH
C. `LiAlH_(4)`
D. B and C are correct

Answer

To convert benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, we can use specific reagents that facilitate this transformation. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Structures
- **Benzaldehyde** has the structure: C6H5CHO (a benzene ring attached to a carbonyl group).
- **Benzyl alcohol** has the structure: C6H5CH2OH (a benzene ring attached to a CH2OH group).

### Step 2: Identify the Reaction Type
- Benzaldehyde is a carbonyl compound (an aldehyde). To convert it to benzyl alcohol, we need to perform a reduction reaction, which involves adding hydrogen or removing oxygen.

### Step 3: Choose the Reagents
1. **Canizzaro Reaction**:
- Benzaldehyde lacks alpha hydrogen atoms, making it suitable for the Canizzaro reaction when treated with a strong base like NaOH.
- In this reaction, one molecule of benzaldehyde is oxidized to form sodium benzoate (a carboxylic acid salt), while another molecule is reduced to benzyl alcohol.

**Reaction**:
\[ 2 \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CHO} \xrightarrow{\text{NaOH}} \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{OH} + \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COO}^- \text{Na}^+ \]

2. **Lithium Aluminum Hydride (LiAlH4)**:
- This is a strong reducing agent that can reduce aldehydes to primary alcohols.
- When benzaldehyde is treated with LiAlH4, it is reduced to benzyl alcohol.

**Reaction**:
\[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CHO} + \text{LiAlH}_4 \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \]

### Step 4: Conclusion
- The reagents that can convert benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol are **NaOH** (for the Canizzaro reaction) and **LiAlH4** (as a reducing agent).
- Therefore, the correct answer is that benzaldehyde can be converted to benzyl alcohol using both **NaOH** and **LiAlH4**.

### Final Answer
Benzaldehyde can be converted to benzyl alcohol by using **NaOH** and **LiAlH4**.

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