Hydrochloric Acid → Salicylic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A glass-made reactor was charged with 6.9 g (0.02 mole) of 3,5-di(4-methylbenzyl)salicylic acid, 50 ml of isopropyl ether and as a catalyst, 2.7 g of anhydrous aluminum chloride. The resultant mixture was maintained at 50° C. under stirring. At the same temperature, 7.6 g (0.06 mole) of benzyl chloride was added dropwise over 8 hours to conduct a reaction. After completion of the dropwise addition, the reaction mixture was aged for 2 hours at the same temperature and was then poured into a dilute aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. The resultant mixture was allowed to separate into layers. The solvent was then distilled out to obtain 12.0 g of a reddish brown resin. The weight average molecular weight of the thus-obtained resin was 1250, while its softening point was 65° C.

Provenance & Evidence