Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin): Aspirin is a good example of a tradename that has entered into the language. Aspirin was once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid. On Aug. 10, 1897 young Bayer researcher, Felix Hoffman, first synthesized acetylsalicylic acid. Bayer registered the trademark 'aspirin' on March 6, 1899. One hundred years later to the day, Bayer celebrated the event by turning its company headquarters into the world's largest pillbox. With over 200,000 square feet of cloth hung from scaffolding by 50 mountain climbers, Bayer transformed its 400-foot tall building in Leverkusen, Germany into one very large Bayer aspirin carton.