**Production and Synthesis**:
– Camphor historically produced from roasting wood chips.
– Taiwanese production exceeded Japanese production.
– Synthetic camphor derived from alpha-pinene in coniferous trees.
– Camphor can be distilled from turpentine.
– Chemical process involves conversion to isobornyl acetate and oxidation to camphor.
**Reactions and Biochemistry**:
– Various reactions studied, including sulfonation and oxidation.
– Biochemically produced from geranyl pyrophosphate.
– Cyclisation to bornyl pyrophosphate and further conversion to camphor.
**Uses**:
– Historical use in plastics industry as plasticizer.
– Commonly used for scent, embalming, religious ceremonies, and folk medicine.
– Topical application for itching and joint pain relief.
– Culinary uses in ancient recipes and traditional dishes.
– Significant role in Hindu ceremonies and mentioned in the Quran.
**Toxicity and Safety**:
– Allergic reactions possible when applied topically.
– Poisonous if ingested in high doses.
– Lethal doses range from 50-500 mg/kg orally.
– Airborne toxicity if inhaled by humans.
– Permissible exposure limit in ambient air is 2 mg/m³.
**Historical Context and Modern Applications**:
– Historical use in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and medicinal practices.
– Therapeutic applications in clinical toxicology and pain management.
– Industrial uses in carbon nanotubes, biopesticides, rust removal, and perfumes.
– Cultural significance in Hindu festivals and ceremonies.
– Health concerns related to camphor overdose and safety regulations.
Camphor (/ˈkæmfər/) is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the kapur tree (Dryobalanops sp.), a tall timber tree from South East Asia. It also occurs in some other related trees in the laurel family, notably Ocotea usambarensis. Rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis) contain 0.05 to 0.5% camphor, while camphorweed (Heterotheca) contains some 5%. A major source of camphor in Asia is camphor basil (the parent of African blue basil). Camphor can also be synthetically produced from oil of turpentine.
 (+)- and (−)-camphor
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
1,7,7-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one
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| Other names
2-Bornanone; Bornan-2-one; 2-Camphanone; Formosa
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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| 3DMet | |
| 1907611 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| DrugBank | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.860 |
| EC Number |
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| 83275 | |
| KEGG | |
| MeSH | Camphor |
PubChem CID
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII |
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| UN number | 2717 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| C10H16O | |
| Molar mass | 152.237 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | White, translucent crystals |
| Odor | Fragrant and penetrating |
| Density | 0.992 g·cm−3 |
| Melting point | 175–177 °C (347–351 °F; 448–450 K) |
| Boiling point | 209 °C (408 °F; 482 K) |
| 1.2 g·dm−3 | |
| Solubility in acetone | ~2500 g·dm−3 |
| Solubility in acetic acid | ~2000 g·dm−3 |
| Solubility in diethyl ether | ~2000 g·dm−3 |
| Solubility in chloroform | ~1000 g·dm−3 |
| Solubility in ethanol | ~1000 g·dm−3 |
| log P | 2.089 |
| Vapor pressure | 4 mmHg (at 70 °C) |
Chiral rotation ([α]D)
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+44.1° |
| −103×10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Pharmacology | |
| C01EB02 (WHO) | |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
  
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| Warning | |
| H228, H302, H332, H371 | |
| P210, P240, P241, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301+P312, P304+P312, P304+P340, P309+P311, P312, P330, P370+P378, P405, P501 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 54 °C (129 °F; 327 K) |
| 466 °C (871 °F; 739 K) | |
| Explosive limits | 0.6–3.5% |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose)
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1310 mg/kg (oral, mouse) |
LDLo (lowest published)
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800 mg/kg (dog, oral) 2000 mg/kg (rabbit, oral) |
LCLo (lowest published)
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400 mg/m3 (mouse, 3 hr) |
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
PEL (Permissible)
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TWA 2 mg/m3 |
REL (Recommended)
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TWA 2 mg/m3 |
IDLH (Immediate danger)
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200 mg/m3 |
| Related compounds | |
Related Ketones
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Fenchone, Thujone |
Related compounds
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Camphene, Pinene, Borneol, Isoborneol, Camphorsulfonic acid |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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The compound is chiral, existing in two possible enantiomers as shown in the structural diagrams. The structure on the left is the naturally occurring (+)-camphor ((1R,4R)-bornan-2-one), while its mirror image shown on the right is the (−)-camphor ((1S,4S)-bornan-2-one). Camphor has few uses but is of historic significance as a compound that is readily purified from natural sources.