Combustion products of lead stabilizers: Dibasic lead phthalate

The volatile products of combustion of dibasic lead phthalate in air were found to be complex and unanticipated. In addition to phthalic anhydride and water, decomposition products anticipated from TGA studies, actual combustion yields salicylic acid, apparently from decarbonylation. The presence of basic lead acetate, from acetic acid catalysis in the preparation of dibasic lead phthalate, leads to minor amounts of dehydroacetic acid and 2‐hydroxyacetophenone.