Medicinal Chemistry Option D

Question 1

How is aspirin synthesised?

Answer 1

• The 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and ethanoic anhydride are warmed gently
• Concentrated sulphuric or phosphoric acid as a catalyst.
• The mixture is diluted with water.
• The reacted mixture is allowed to cool down so that aspirin crystals form as aspirin has a low solubility in water.