[dmoneyownz]

I am having a bit of a problem figuring out the mechanism of copper(II) acetate monohydrate and acetylsalicylic acid in forming copper(II) acetylsalicylate. The copper(II) acetate monohydrate is dissolved in water and the acetylsalicylic acid is dissolved in ethanol.  I think but am not sure that the acetylsalicylic acid reacts with the ethanol making a salt and water. I believe that the reaction forms a coordinated bond joining the copper to two acetylsalicylic acid salts. I do not understand how the acetylsalicylic acid becomes possibly a salt by reacting with the ethanol and how the complex of copper with the acetylsalicylic acid salt forms. Thanks in advance.

[AWK]

I am having a bit of a problem figuring out the mechanism of copper(II) acetate monohydrate and acetylsalicylic acid in forming copper(II) acetylsalicylate. The copper(II) acetate monohydrate is dissolved in water and the acetylsalicylic acid is dissolved in ethanol.  I think but am not sure that the acetylsalicylic acid reacts with the ethanol making a salt and water

.
Acetysalicylic acid practically does not react with water or ethanol (a few percent dissociation)

I believe that the reaction forms a coordinated bond joining the copper to two acetylsalicylic acid salts. I do not understand how the acetylsalicylic acid becomes possibly a salt by reacting with the ethanol and how the complex of copper with the acetylsalicylic acid salt forms. Thanks in advance.

Acetylsalicylic acid forms two different complexes with copper with coordination number 5 or 6 for Cu. Some water molecules are involved in coordination sphere.

[dmoneyownz]

Thanks for this, but i think that the main reason that I am having a problem with this is because I do not know for sure the structure of copper acetylsalicylate.