Identify the major product formed in the following reaction: + Product (Reaction is carried out in the presence of )

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction is the acetylation of salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) using acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine. Pyridine acts as a base and facilitates the removal of a proton from the more acidic and more nucleophilic phenolic - OH group. The phenoxide ion (or the activated phenolic oxygen) then attacks the carbonyl carbon of acetic anhydride. The phenolic - OH group undergoes acetylation to form an ester linkage, while the carboxylic acid ( - COOH ) group remains unaffected because it is less