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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: 1forest1 on October 19, 2017, 01:45:20 PM

Title: Aspirin synthesis reaction???
Post by: 1forest1 on October 19, 2017, 01:45:20 PM

Is the reaction for the synthesis of aspirin with salicylic acid and acetic anhydride a reversible reaction?? could equilibrium be used to explain why the percentage yield is low??

Title: Re: Aspirin synthesis reaction???
Post by: Arkcon on October 19, 2017, 02:14:32 PM

Start by writing the reaction out.  See if something about the products or reactants makes a reverse reaction unlikely.

Title: Re: Aspirin synthesis reaction???
Post by: 1forest1 on October 19, 2017, 02:18:04 PM

im not quite sure what you mean. I know the the reactants are salicylic acid and acetic anhydride and the products formed are aspirin and acetic acid. But isn't that an esterification reaction?? and I thought those were reversible

Title: Re: Aspirin synthesis reaction???
Post by: Arkcon on October 19, 2017, 04:09:59 PM

This reaction?:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin#Synthesis

No, its not reversible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ester#Alcoholysis_of_acyl_chlorides_and_acid_anhydrides

Title: Re: Aspirin synthesis reaction???
Post by: 1forest1 on October 19, 2017, 04:39:20 PM

thanks, just got myself a bit confused