Salicylate ester I, useful as an analgesic and antiinflammatory agent (no data), was prepared; also prepared were I (R = 3-phthalidyl, Me3CCO2CH2, Pr2CHCO2CH2; R1 = H, Ac; R2 = H, Cl). Thus, treating 2-AcOC6H4CO2H with 3-bromophthalide in Me2CO containing Et3N and NaI at 65-70° gave I.