3-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol → Aspirin

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-hydroxymethylphenol (10 g, 0.08 moles) is dissolved in toluene (50 ml) containing triethylamine (9.8 g, 0.1 moles). To the so obtained solution an acetylsalicylic acid chloride solution (16 g, 0.08 moles) in toluene (50 ml) is added at a temperature of 5°-10° C. under stirring. The mixture is maintained at a temperature in the above mentioned range, under stirring for 2 hours, then poured in water and then extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 ml). The organic phase is separated, washed in sequence with a 25% w/v potassium carbonate solution, with water, with a 3% hydrochloric acid solution and lastly with water again, then anhydrified with sodium sulphate and the solvent evaporated under vacuum. The residue is crystallized from isopropanol. 3-hydroxymethylphenyl ester of the 2-acetoxybenzoic acid (45.8 g, 0.16 moles, yield 80%) is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence