Industrial Grade Flavor Grade 96% Pharmaceutical Grade D-CAMPHOR CAS 464-49-3

 What is a D-Camphor? How does it work?

D-Camphor, also known as dextrorotatory camphor (D-(+)-camphor) and chemically named 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-one (camphor), is the most abundant enantiomer of camphor in nature. It is a white, translucent crystal with a strong characteristic odor. It is a classic plasticizer for celluloid plastics and a core ingredient in mentholatum and medicated oils. From the plastics industry to moth repellents to fine chemicals, D-camphor spans multiple industrial fields.

Basic information: Molecular formula C10H16O, molecular weight 152.24, CAS number 464-49-3 (D-dextral camphor, natural main component); camphor common CAS 76-22-2, EC 200-945-0.

Physically, D-camphor is a white, translucent crystal with a fragrant and strong characteristic odor; density 0.992 g/cm³; melting point 175-177℃ (natural dextrorotatory form about 178℃); boiling point 209℃; almost insoluble in water (about 1.2 g/L), extremely soluble in ethanol, ether, chloroform, and acetone (1000-2500 g/L); specific rotation [α]D +44.1° (dextrorotatory); **it easily sublimes at room temperature**, which is its key physical property as a fumigant for mothproofing and rust prevention.

Chemically, D-camphor is a terpene cyclic ketone: its carbonyl group can be reduced (sodium borohydride reduces it to isoborneol), undergo enolization condensation (to prepare 1,3-dione), be sulfonated (to produce camphor sulfonic acid), and be oxidized (selenium dioxide oxidizes it to camphorquinone). Its chiral skeleton makes it an important chiral source chemical. It has a flash point of 54°C and an explosion limit of 0.6-3.5%, and is a flammable solid. It must be stored in a sealed container away from sources of ignition.

From the perspective of mechanism of action, industrial-grade D-camphor plays an irreplaceable role due to its "easy sublimation and volatility + chiral ketone activity + skin irritation". The mechanism of action in different applications is as follows:

1.Plasticization mechanism (celluloid molding)

Camphor molecules are small and have good compatibility with nitrocellulose. They can insert into the polymer chains to weaken the inter-chain forces and lower the glass transition temperature, making nitrocellulose change from a brittle and hard state to a soft and plastic one. This led to the creation of celluloid, which was the earliest thermoplastic plasticizer.

2.Mechanism of antagonism to stimuli (warming/cooling sensation)

After being absorbed through the skin, camphor stimulates the nerve endings that are sensitive to heat and cold: applying it vigorously produces a warming sensation, while applying it lightly produces a cooling sensation. This "anti-stimulation" effect can mask deep pain (local analgesia) and relieve insect bites, itching, joint pain, etc., and is the basis for external preparations such as mentholatum and medicated oil.

3.Sublimation and volatilization mechanism (slow-release fumigation)

D-camphor sublimates at room temperature, slowly vaporizes, and forms stable vapor in enclosed spaces (wardrobes, toolboxes, warehouses). This is the core physical basis for its moth-proof, insect-repellent, and rust-proof fumigation effects—slow volatilization and long-lasting effect.

4.Insecticidal toxicological mechanism (volatile repellent)

Camphor vapor can protect clothing, specimens and collections from insect damage as it is toxic or repellent to insects such as clothes moths, cockroaches and mosquitoes. It smells really bad to humans and worse to insects.

5.Chiral skeleton reaction mechanism (camphor sulfonic acid and camphor quinone)

D-camphor's rigid chiral bicyclic skeleton is sulfonated to produce camphor sulfonic acid (a chiral resolving agent and chiral catalyst), and oxidized to produce camphor quinone (a photoinitiator). Chiral information is transferred from camphor to downstream fine chemicals, making it an important natural chiral source.

To summarize, industrial D-camphor is a multifunctional terpenoid chemical with applications “from celluloid to mentholatum.” Its sublimation volatility, irritant properties and chiral framework are widely used in various industries, including plastics, daily necessities and fine chemicals, ranging from plasticizers, moth and insect repellents to chiral synthesis.

 What are the uses of industrial-grade D-Camphor?

1.Celluloid and Nitrocellulose Plasticizers (main application in plastics industry)

Application Field: Nitrocellulose Processing & Plastics Industry

Corresponding Products: Celluloid sheets and plates; celluloid table tennis balls, eyeglass frames, combs and toys; nitrocellulose varnish and film plasticizers; plasticizer ingredients for coatings and adhesives

Applicability Principle: Camphor is compatible with nitrocellulose. It penetrates between polymer chains and reduces the glass transition temperature, rendering nitrocellulose soft and malleable. It serves as the key plasticizer for celluloid production (the world’s first thermoplastic), and is also used for flexibility modification of nitrocellulose varnishes. It is one of the most important natural plasticizers in plastics industry history.

2.Raw materials for topical dosage forms (main application)

Application Field: Topical Anti-itch Preparations

Corresponding Products: Menthol balm, medicated oil, camphor tincture, camphor liniment, shidishui (ten drops of water), anti-pruritic cream, steam inhalers

Applicability Principle: After skin absorption, camphor stimulates heat/cold-sensitive nerve endings and creates warming or cooling sensations. It exerts an anti-irritant effect and relieves itching caused by insect bites and skin irritation.

3.Insect and moth repellents and insecticides (basic use in daily hygiene products)

Application Field: Daily Hygiene & Warehouse Protection

Corresponding Products: Natural camphor balls (naphthalene mothball alternatives), wardrobe mothproof sheets, cockroach repellent blocks, mosquito repellent and camphor fumigant, insect repellent for biological specimens, warehouse insect repellents

Applicability Principle: D-camphor sublimes at room temperature and generates stable vapor toxic or repellent to clothes moths, cockroaches and mosquitoes. It acts as a safer alternative to naphthalene / para-dichlorobenzene mothballs. Its eco-friendly fumigation properties are also applied for red imported fire ant control and specimen preservation.

Metal rust inhibitors (metal protection field)

Application Field: Tool Maintenance & Metal Protection

Corresponding Products: Rust-proof blocks for toolboxes, rust-proof sheets for drawers, rust-proof packaging for hardware tools, rust inhibitors for machine tool guideways

Applicability Principle: Within closed spaces, camphor sublimes slowly and forms a micro protective film on metal surfaces. This film isolates moisture and oxygen to prevent corrosion, delivering continuous rust protection for roughly 6–12 months. It is a traditional, low-cost and effective anti-rust solution for metal tools.

4.Camphorsulfonic Acid and Chiral Chemical Raw Materials (core application in fine chemicals industry)

Application Field: Fine Chemistry & Chiral Chemistry

Corresponding Products: 10-Camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), camphorsulfonic acid chiral resolving agents, chiral catalysts, pesticide synthesis auxiliaries

Applicability Principle: Sulfonation of D-camphor yields camphorsulfonic acid with a rigid chiral framework. It can be used as a chiral resolving reagent to separate racemic mixtures and as a chiral acid catalyst for asymmetric synthesis, transferring D-camphor’s natural chiral information to fine chemical products.

5.Raw materials for camphorquinone and photoinitiators (chemical and dental materials fields)

Application Field: Dental Materials & Radiation Curing

Corresponding Products: Camphorquinone (CQ) photoinitiator, dental UV-curable composite resins, initiation systems for UV-curable coatings and inks

Applicability Principle: D-Camphor can be oxidized to camphorquinone. Camphorquinone undergoes photoactivation under blue light (approx. 468 nm) via hydrogen abstraction to generate free radicals and initiate resin polymerization. It is the classic photoinitiator for dental UV-curable composite resins and is also used in UV-curable coatings and inks.

6.Daily chemical fragrances and cooling agents (daily chemical industry)

Application Field: Daily Chemical & Perfume Industry

Corresponding Products: Fragrance raw materials for perfumes and colognes, shaving products, shower gels and cleaners, cooling skincare products, air fresheners

Applicability Principle: D-camphor has a complex aroma composed of camphor, mint, herbal, woody and medicinal notes, along with cooling sensory characteristics. It imparts fresh top notes and herbal base character to fragrances, and its cooling effect modifies the tactile feel of daily chemical products.

7.Raw materials for synthesis of camphor derivatives (fragrance synthesis area)

Application Field: Fragrance Synthesis

Corresponding Products: Borneol, isoborneol, isoborneol acetate, borneol aldehyde, camphorene

Applicability Principle: The carbonyl group of D-camphor can be reduced to isoborneol or borneol, and can undergo enolization condensation to form camphorene compounds. It is an important raw material for synthesizing terpenoid fragrances such as borneol, and its derivatives are widely used in cooling fragrance formulas.

To summarize, industrial-grade D-camphor (\(C_{10}H_{16}O\), CAS 464-49-3) is a versatile terpenoid chemical with applications “from celluloid to mentholatum”. Leveraging its easy sublimation and volatility, irritant properties and chiral ketone skeleton, it has mature applications across multiple sectors: celluloid plasticization, moth and insect repellents, metal rust prevention, camphorsulfonic acid and chiral fine chemicals, camphorquinone photoinitiators, daily chemical fragrances, and camphor derivative synthesis. Camphorsulfonic acid and camphorquinone represent two important high-end fine chemical and dental material derivative directions.