IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SALICYLIC ACID AND ITS HOMOLOGUES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF SALICYLIC ACID AND ITS HOMOLOGUES" communicated
..to him from Otto Leupold, a person resident at Stuttgart in the Empire of
Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SALICYLIC ACID AND
ITS. HOMOLOGUES" a Communication from Otto Leupold a person resident at
Stuttgart in the Empire of Germany
This Invention relates to the manufacture of Salicylic Acid and its homologues
and it consists in causing Alcoholic Carbonic ethers to react upon combinations of
Sodium and Phenols or upon a mixture of these combinations with hydrate of
Soda or an Alcoholate of Soda (as hereinafter described)
The Carbonic Ethers of ordinary Alcohols in the presence of Phenol Sodium or
the sodium compounds of a homologue of Phenol react by decomposition in such a
manner that Salicylic Acid or its homologues a Phenyl alcoholic ether and the
corresponding Alcohol are formed
For example if Carbonic ethyl be heated with Phenol Sodium there are formed
Salicylic Acid Phenetol and Ethyl Alcohol
When a mixture of Phenol Sodium and hydrate of Soda is employed Spirit of
Wine only is obtained as a bye Product-If Phenol Sodium and an Alcoholate of
Sodium be employed Spirit of Wine or Alcohol and a corresponding simple or
compound Ether will be obtained
In place of the simple Carbonic ethyl ether it is evident that any other simple
or compound Carbonic Ether may be employed.
In order to produce Salicylic Acid two equivalents of Phenol Sodium may be
mixed with one equivalent of Carbonic Ethyl and heated preferably in a closed
vessel to a temperature ranging from about 120 to 150 degrees Centigrade. The
Spirit of Wine or Alcobol formed is subsequently distilled off together with the
Phenotol and the Salicylic Acid is precipitated by means of a mineral Acid from
the residue of Salicylate of Soda dissolved in water
The other mixtures hereinbefore referred to are treated in a similar manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Patent Office on the 4th June
1884.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman' "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SALICYLIC ACID AND ITS
HOMOLOGUES." a communication to me from Otto Leupold a person resident at
Stuttgart in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of salicylic acid and its homologues
and it consists in causing Alcoholic Carbonic Ethers to react upon combinations of
Sodium and Phenols or upon a mixture of these combinations with Hydrate of
Soda or an Alcholate of Soda (as hereinafter described)
The Carbonic Ethers of ordinary Alcohols in the presence of Phenol Sodium or.
the Sodium compounds of a homologue of Phenol react by decomposition in such a
manner that Salicylic Acid or its homologues, a Phenyl Alcoholic Ether, and the
corresponding Alcohol are found.
For example if Carbonic Ethyl be heated with Phenol Sodium there are formed
Salicylic Acid Phenetol and Ethyl Alcohol.
When a mixture of Phenol Sodium and Hydrate of Soda is employed, Spirit of
Wine only is obtained as a bye product. If Phenol Sodium and an Alcoholate of
Sodium be employed Spirit of Wine or Alcohol and a corresponding simple or
compound ether will be obtained.
In place of the simple Carbonic Ethyl it is evident that any other simple or
compound Carbonic Ether may be employed.
In order to produce Salicylic Acid two equivalents of Phenol Sodium may be
mixed with one equivalent of Carbonic Ethyl or ether and heated preferably in a
closed vessel to a temperature ranging from about 120 to 150 degrees Centigrade.
The Spirit of Wine or Alcohol formed is subsequently distilled off together with
the Phenetol and the Salicylic Acid is precipitated by means of a mineral Acid
from the residue of basic salicylate of soda dissolved in water.
The other mixtures hereinbefore referred to are treated in a similar manner. The
reactions that take place are represented by the following equations.
Na
1. C. O . C + 2 C. Ĥ., O. Na =C, H., ON + C₁₂ H, O. C, H,+ C, H, O. H
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that it has formerly been
proposed to obtain salicylic acid and as a bye product Phenol or phenol ethers by
causing an alkali to react upon phenyl carbonic ethers and therefore I make no
claim to this under this Patent but what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is.
The manufacture of salicylic acid and its homologues by causing alcoholic

page_text: carbonic ethers to react upon the soda compounds of phenol or upon a mixture of
these compounds and hydrate of soda or an alcoholate of soda substantially as
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification
set my band and seal the twenty third day of May One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)