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Organic conversion

Phenol to salicylic acid

1 step: Kolbe's reaction

Class 12, Chapter 7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

  1. HO
    PhenolC₆H₅OHPhenol
  2. Step 1

    (i) NaOH (ii) CO₂, 400 K, 4 to 7 atm (iii) H⁺

    Kolbe's reaction
    i

    Kolbe's reaction puts a COOH group ortho to the OH through the phenoxide ion.

    OHOOH
    Salicylic acido-HOC₆H₄COOHCarboxylic acid

Exam answer

  1. Step 1: Phenol to salicylic acid: (i) NaOH (ii) CO₂, 400 K, 4 to 7 atm (iii) H⁺.
Why these reagents

Reagent and reason, step by step

  • Step 1: Phenol to salicylic acid: (i) NaOH (ii) CO₂, 400 K, 4 to 7 atm (iii) H⁺ Kolbe's reaction puts a COOH group ortho to the OH through the phenoxide ion.
Questions

Phenol to salicylic acid: quick answers

How many steps does it take to convert phenol to salicylic acid?

1 step: Phenol, then salicylic acid.

Which named reaction is used to convert phenol to salicylic acid?

Kolbe's reaction. Sodium phenoxide reacts with carbon dioxide at 400 K and 4 to 7 atm, and acidification gives salicylic acid.

What is the reagent for step 1 of phenol to salicylic acid?

Phenol to salicylic acid: (i) NaOH (ii) CO₂, 400 K, 4 to 7 atm (iii) H⁺. Kolbe's reaction puts a COOH group ortho to the OH through the phenoxide ion.

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