Aspirin Synthesis: Route Planning
Interactive demonstration of aspirin synthesis pathways and retrosynthetic analysis
About this simulation
- What
- An interactive Chemistry simulation of Aspirin Synthesis: Route Planning.
- Who
- Designed for AP, IB, and A‑Level Chemistry students.
- How
- Runs in any modern browser — drag, adjust, and explore in real time.
Updated 2026-05-25
Key Concepts
Retrosynthetic Analysis
A problem-solving technique that works backwards from a target molecule to identify simpler precursors and viable synthetic routes.
Esterification
The reaction between salicylic acid and acetic anhydride produces aspirin through nucleophilic acyl substitution.
Kolbe-Schmitt Reaction
An industrial method to produce salicylic acid from phenol using CO₂ under pressure - the most efficient route.
Exam specification coverage
Understanding Aspirin Synthesis
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of the most widely used medications worldwide. Understanding its synthesis provides excellent practice in organic reaction mechanisms and retrosynthetic analysis.
The industrial synthesis uses the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction to produce salicylic acid from phenol, followed by acetylation with acetic anhydride. This is the most efficient route with only 2 steps.
Alternative routes starting from benzene require multiple steps including Friedel-Crafts alkylation, oxidation, and hydroxylation, making them less practical for industrial production.
Frequently Asked Questions
📚 Read the Guide
Explore the concepts behind this simulation in our detailed article.
Related Simulations
Esterification & Hydrolysis Lab
Trace the exact bond-breaking positions in Fischer esterification using ¹⁸O isotopic labelling. This resource animates acyl-oxygen cleavage and its perfect reverse — acid-catalysed hydrolysis.
Organic Reaction Types Guide
Master seven core organic reaction types through interactive 3D bond-breaking and bond-forming animations aligned with chemistry exam curricula.
Reaction Mechanisms Visualizer
Nucleophilic Substitution Mechanisms represent the path of electron flow in organic chemistry. This tool allows you to draw Curly Arrows for SN1 and SN2 reactions to trace the movement of electron pairs.
Benzyl Benzoate Synthesis
Interactive demonstration of benzyl benzoate synthesis using a convergent pathway. Learn retrosynthetic analysis by tracing back from the target ester to starting materials through parallel branches.