Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Salicylic acid from acetylsalicylic acid

kt5000 - 1-5-2017 at 20:37

Is it possible to convert acetylsalicylic acid back to salicylic acid? I have some nice recrystalized acetylsalicylic acid but would like to try the synthesis of methyl salicylate, which requires salicylic acid and methanol.

Or is there a way to make that esterification work with acetylsalicylic acid and methanol?

Thanks!

DraconicAcid - 1-5-2017 at 21:28

If you dissolve ASA in basic aqueous solution and boil it for a while, it should hydrolyze. Acidify to precipitate the acid.

XeonTheMGPony - 2-5-2017 at 03:52

have you ever considered checking out you tube allot of very good videos on this Nile red has a good one

gdflp - 2-5-2017 at 05:16

See the first post of this thread.

kt5000 - 5-5-2017 at 23:19

Awesome stuff, thank you!

Booze - 6-5-2017 at 10:31

Easy. Mix it with a large exess of water with about 7% hydrochloric acid and reflux for a half hour. Let it crystalize and vacuum filter it (you can use gravity filtration, but vacuum filtration is way faster and dries it)