[NISHANT]

which will be the product when acetaldehyde is treated with dilute alkali:
a}acetic acid
b}alpha-hydroxy butanal
Of course we know that this at first glance should be beta-hydroxy butanal by aldol condensation,but here the option contains {alpha type},so I want to know that is there a slight chance that acetic acid may also be produced along with the aldol product?

[Winga]

b

[NISHANT]

but by aldol condensation beta hydroxy butanal should form?

[GCT]

it can undergo a cannizzaro reaction with the acetic acid as one of the products.

[NISHANT]

but isn't it necessary for cannizaro that there should be no alpha hydrogens.And isn't there a slight chance that it may be oxidised by the dilute alkali althogh the chance may be quite low

[Winga]

Sorry, I didn't read it carefully.

In this case, I think both of them are not the products.

Present of alpha-hydrogens, Cannizzaro reaction doesn't occur.

In aldol condensation, after beta-hydroxy butanal is formed, it will undergo dehydration, and conjugated enone forms.

[NISHANT]

but isn't there a slight chance that the aldehyde could be oxidised to carboxylic acid by the dilute base.

[NISHANT]

the reason I am stressing so much on it's oxidation to aetic acid is because of the fact it is very difficult for this question to be wrong as it came in an exam at national level.

[NISHANT]

so isn't there a chance that the aldehyde could be oxidised to acetic acid by dilute alkali?

[movies]

Without an additional oxidizing agent, probably not.  The only way I can think of is through the Canizzaro reaction, which was already mentioned.  That reaction will definitely be slower than the aldol reaction (or condensation).

[Garneck]

I can't imagine how you can oxidise an aldehyde to acetic acid in a alkali solution.