An equimolar mixture of p-nitrobenzaldehyde and p-methoxybenzaldehyde is treated with concentrated NaOH solution. Which of the following represents the major products formed in this crossed Cannizzaro reaction?

Step-by-step solution

In a crossed Cannizzaro reaction between two different aldehydes lacking -hydrogens, the initial step is the nucleophilic addition of the hydroxide ion ( OH ^-) to the carbonyl carbon. The OH ^- ion preferentially attacks the more electrophilic carbonyl carbon. The -NO ₂ group in p-nitrobenzaldehyde is a strong electron-withdrawing group (-I, -M), which increases the positive charge on its carbonyl carbon. Conversely, the -OCH ₃ group in p-methoxybenzaldehyde is an electron-donating group (+M), which decreases the