Synthesis of borneol via isomerization of isoborneol catalyzed by Co/TiO2

Borneol synthesis faces challenges from co-generated impurities (isoborneol/camphor) and competing dehydration/dehydrogenation during isomerization. Here, Co/TiO 2 is demonstrated as a selective catalyst for isoborneol-to-borneol isomerization, effectively suppressing structural degradation. Controlled acidity and cobalt dispersion are identified as critical factors: TiO 2 's moderate acidity promotes isomerization, while strongly acidic supports (e.g., Mordenite) favor dehydration to camphene. Reduced cobalt particle size enhances active-site accessibility, lowering activation energy and boosting borneol yield. A one-pot two-step process achieves >62 % borneol content with <0.5 % camphor, meeting ChPC purity standards. This strategy bypasses traditional purification bottlenecks, offering a scalable route for high-purity borneol synthesis. The mechanistic insights into acid strength and metal dispersion provide a framework for rational catalyst design in industrial isomerization applications.