Salicylic Acid → Aspirin

Participants

Reaction Steps

Commercially, aspirin is synthesized using a two-step process. Phenol, generally extracted from coal tar, is treated with sodium base to generate sodium phenoxide. Sodium phenoxide is then reacted with carbon dioxide under high temperature and pressure to yield salicylate, which is acidified to obtain salicylic acid. This process is known as the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction. Salicylic acid is acetylated with acetic anhydride to produce aspirin and acetic acid as byproduct.

Provenance & Evidence