Kolbe reaction, also known as Kolbe Schmitt Reaction is a type of addition reaction named after Hermann Kolbe and Rudolf Schmitt. When phenol is treated with sodium hydroxide, phenoxide ion is generated. The phenoxide ion generated is more reactive than phenol towards electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Hence, it undergoes electrophilic substitution reaction with carbon dioxide, which is a weak electrophile. Ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) is formed as the primary product. This reaction is popularly known as Kolbe’s reaction.
