Investigation of the catalуtic activitу of K2CO3 in the carboxуlation reaction of phenol with sodium ethуl carbonate

Abstract

The catalуtic activitу of К2СО3 in the carboxуlation reaction of phenol with sodium ethуl carbonate has been investigated. The aim of the research was to develop a new efficient method for producing salicylic acid which is widely used in pharmaceuticals and other type preparations, also used in agriculture as an effective plant growth promoter. The most widespread synthesis method of salicylic acid is the Kolbe-Schmitt of phenol carboxylation, but it has a number of serious disadvantages. One of the alternative methods is the use of alkali metal salts of mono ethers of the carbonic acids as carboxylating agents in the carboxylation of phenol. In order to improve the method of production of salicylic acid, the catalytic activity of the К2СО3 catalyst at the carboxylation of phenol with sodium ethyl carbonate was studied for the first time. The effect of the process parameters (temperature, pressure, reaction time, ratio of catalyst to carboxylating agent) on the yield of the target product was studied. It was found optimal conditions: T=160°C, PCO2=10 atm, τ=7(4+3) h, [К2СО3]:[SEC]=0.07:1 at which the yield of the target product was 80%. The yields of the target product at phenol carboxylation with sodium ethyl carbonate in the presence and without K2CO3 were determined. It was found that К2СО3 shows the catalytic activity during carboxylation reaction.