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KOLBE REACTION

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KOLBE REACTION

Sodium phenoxide, reacts with carbon dioxide at 1250c and high pressure to form unstable

intermediate, which undergoes a proton shift i.e., keto enol tautomerisation to give sodium

salicylate which on acidification yields salicylic acid. The reaction is known as Kolbe reaction orKolbe Schmidt reaction.

This reaction is an electrophlic substitution reaction.In this reaction, carbon dioxide acts as electrophile.

Mech :