Our investigation elucidates the structure of the intermediate in the first stage of the carboxylation reaction
of potassium phenoxide. Under the reduced pressure of carbon dioxide the complex is not solvated with the
CO2 molecules. Under the conditions of the carboxylation reaction the potassium phenoxide-carbon dioxide
complex is solvated with one or two CO2 molecules. One of the added CO2 moieties performs an electrophilic
attack on the benzene ring, whereas the old CO2 moiety becomes a molecule of solvent. Our findings are
in good accord with the experimental results obtained by the NMR and IR measurements.