Question

how is phenol converted to methyl salicylate ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Phenol (1) is reacted with sodium hydroxyde (NaOH) and CO2 to add a carboxylic acid to the molecule, in order to obtain salicylic acid (2), a process called the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction. Compound 2 is then methylated to obtain methyl salicylate (3).