Kolbe-Schmitt reaction

This conversion is an example of a Kolbe-Schmitt reaction.

The Kolbe-Schmitt reaction provides a route to salicylic acid, precursor to aspirin.

The Kolbe-Schmitt reaction proceeds via the nucleophile addition of a phenolate to carbon dioxide to give the salicylate.

Other electrophiles are aromatic diazonium salts in diazonium couplings, carbon dioxide in the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction and activated carbonyl groups in the Pechmann condensation.

He worked on the electrolysis of the salts of fatty and other acids (Kolbe electrolysis) and prepared salicylic acid, a building block of aspirin in a process called Kolbe synthesis or Kolbe-Schmitt reaction.