when you react ethyl alcohol with methyl salicylate what are the products?

Question

would the reaction of methyl salicylate and ethanol not harmful to the skin? is there a restriction or limitation when using both chemicals ( in a final formulation such as liniment )for the skin?
what would be the toxic substances in reacting such compounds?

Answer 1

There would be no reaction unless you were in extremely strongly alkaline solution, when a process of transesterification might take place. This is unlikely in the circumstances! Here, the ethanol is just a solvent.

Answer 2

Lancenigo di Villorba (TV), Italy

As I remember, at room temperature Ethanol and MethylSalicylate are liquid bother.
ETHANOL
Ethanol is one among the lightest alcohols, hence it shows clearly polar characteristics because it molecules interact one to the other ones by means of "hydrogen's bond" and weaker ones.
METHYLSALICYLATE
MethylSalicylate is the simplest ester of Salicylic Acid, hence it shows a very few polar characteristics because it belongs to ester's class and to Salicylic Derivative's one, that are organic compounds interacting its molecules by means of "van der Waals forces" and few stronger ones.
Nonetheless the different characteristics, MethylSalicylate results soluble in Ethanol : if they undergo mixing, Ethanol may dissolve MethylSalicylate.

DOES SOME REACTION HAPPEN?
In this simplest manner, I think nobody reactions may happen.
In a glass-balloon you put an amount of this alcoholic mixture, hence you add deionized water.
GERVALDF SUGGESTED YOU DOSING OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE. Now, you connect a steam-dumping apparatus at the top-neck of the balloon. By means of a gentle warming, I think about the following phenomena

o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH3)(aq) + NaOH(aq) <--->
<---> o-(HO-C6H4-COONa)(aq) + CH3OH(aq)

o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH3)(aq) + CH3CH2OH(aq) + NaOH(aq)
<---> o-(NaO-C6H4-COOCH2CH3)(aq) + CH3OH(aq) +
+ H2O(aq)

These reactions are known as ACYLIC NUCLEOPHILIC SUBSTITUTIONs where the Carboxylic Carbon Atom may undergo nucleophilic action carried out by other stuffs. Sodium Hydroxide is a STRONG BASE, it may play as NUCLEOPHILIC REACTIVE versus Carboxylic Carbon giving off SodiumSalicylate + Methanol.
Sodium Hydroxide take favour to Nucleophilic Nature of Ethanol, so the latter attacks the Carboxylic Carbon giving off EthylSalicylate + Methanol.
These phenomena run slowly, so you may think to enhance the reaction's rate by means of increased warming (see KINETIC factors). Temperature take favour to vaporization or esters, e.g. MethylSalicylate faster than EthylSalicylate's one : the "Le Chatelier's Principle" of "Mobile Equilibrium" (see THERMODYNAMICS factors) states that the excessive heat slows the reaction's rate.
ACIDIC MEDIA offer alternative ways to lead these phenomena. An hot and sulphuric bath permits the following ones

o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH3)(aq) + H2O(aq) <--->
<---> o-(HO-C6H4-COOH)(aq) + CH3OH(aq)

o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH3)(aq) + CH3CH2OH(aq) <--->
<---> o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH2CH3)(aq) + CH3OH(aq)

o-(HO-C6H4-COOCH3)(aq) + CH3CH2OH(aq) <--->
<---> o-(HO-C6H3-COOCH3)-CH2CH3(aq) + H2O(aq)

What does it may happen?
I think that a sulphuric bath leads the HYDROLYSIS of MethylSalicylate giving off Salicylic Acid + Methanol, in a second way giving off EthylSalicylate + Methanol, finally the FRIEDEL-CRAFT's Reaction giving off
p-Ethyl-o-MethylSalicylate. The three reaction carrying out the different products depending on KINETIC and THERMODYNAMICS factors interesting the meeting of sulphuric acid with a reaction-partner. Sulphuric/MethylSalicylate meeting leads to Salicylic Acid or EthylSalicylate.
Sulphuric/Ethanol meeting leads to
p-Ethyl-o-MethylSalicylate.
Since I desire avoid
p-Ethyl-o-MethylSalicylate I may think to apply the MASS ACTION's LAW in order to increase the Water's amount despite the Ethanol's one.

CONCLUSION
Sodium Hydroxide's media may lead to EthylSalicylate by means of a slow reaction.
Sulphuric Acid's media may lead to someother products carrying to addictional troubles.

I hope this helps you.