Synthesis of (－)-isopinocamphone was carried out using (－)-α-pinene as the starting material. Borane obtained from the reaction of NaBH₄ and BF₃•(C₂H₅)₂O without purification was directly re-acted with α-pinene in THF to obtain diisopinocampheylborane, which was further oxidized with so-dium perborate tetrahydrate to afford isopinocampheol as white solids, in a yield 89.5%, purity 97.4%, m.p. 55～56 ℃, ＋28.31 (c 5.55, CH₃OH). Isopinocamphone was prepared by oxidiz-ing isopinocampheol with hydrogen peroxide under catalysis of vanadium phosphorus oxide, in a yield over 88%, purity 96.0%, －10.58 (c 5.51, CH₃OH). The structures of isopinocampheol and isopinocamphone were determined by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS spec-tra.

Key words: (＋)-isopinocampheol, (－)-isopinocamphone, (－)-α-pinene