In this paper

the various effects influencing activity and selectivity of catalytic esterification reaction of α pinene with acetic acid to form bornyl ester

including temperature

time

co catalyst

solvent and anion effect etc.

have been studied. The better synthesis conditions in ordor to obain high yicld of bornyl ester is also given. The complex catalysis mechanism is presented that an acidic complex compound HB(AcO) 4 forms in HB solution system. It is the complex compound that affords active H + and B(AcO) - 4 in the solution

which influenecs the two distinet reaction mechanisms (ionizing and non ionizing) and controls the competitions between ring enlarging and ring opening reactions

between esterification and isomerization

so that the activity and selectivity in the formation of bornyl ester from α pinene and acetic acid are greatly improved. For all these results

the satisfied mechanistic explanations have been given.