How is Benzene converted to Salicylic acid?

The conversion of benzene to salicylic acid involves several chemical reactions and steps. Salicylic acid is a key intermediate in the synthesis of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), and the process typically starts with benzene. Here's a simplified outline of the synthesis:

Benzene to Phenol:

The first step is to convert benzene into phenol. This is usually done through a reaction called the Dow process, which involves treating benzene with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium at high temperature and pressure to form sodium phenoxide.
The sodium phenoxide is then acidified to yield phenol.
Phenol to Salicylic Acid:

Phenol is then converted to salicylic acid through a series of reactions. The most common method is the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction:
Phenol is treated with carbon dioxide (CO2) under high pressure and temperature in the presence of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form sodium salicylate.
The sodium salicylate is then acidified with hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to produce salicylic acid.