The application discloses a method for improving the synthesis efficiency and quality of alpha-hydroxy acid
borneol and
borneol. In view of the problems existing in the traditional
borneol synthesis process, alpha-hydroxy acid is used instead of
anhydrous oxalic acid as an esterification agent, one or more of
boric acid, phenylboric acid,
boron oxide and VB2 is used as a catalyst, and an
acid anhydride is added, and the
intermediate product alpha-hydroxy acid borneol is obtained by stirring reaction at
room temperature. After the reaction is completed, the catalyst is filtered out by standing and precipitating, and the
reaction product is washed to neutral with water. The monoterpenes by-product in the product is separated by
water vapor distillation to obtain crude alpha-hydroxy acid borneol. The crude borneol is separated and purified by
column chromatography to obtain refined alpha-hydroxy acid borneol. Finally, the borneol ester is saponified, and the borneol with a purity of more than 98% is obtained by
water vapor distillation. The application can complete the reaction by stirring at
room temperature, and there is no danger of heating, material flushing and explosion, and the total borneol yield can reach more than 45%, and the normal borneol accounts for more than 80% of the total borneol.