MANUFACTURE OF 2,2-DIMETHYL-3-METHYLENEBICYCLO (2,2,1)HEPTANE-5-OL OR ITS ESTER

PURPOSE:To manufacture the titled compound which is Nojigiku alcohol or its ester with high selectivity coefficient by electrolytically oxidizing tricyclene or camphene in a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid and by optionally hydrolyzing the oxidized product. CONSTITUTION:Tricyclene and/or camphene is electrolytically oxidized in a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid such as acetic acid. In the oxidation, it is preferable to use a nonreactive supporting electrolyte not inhibiting the oxidation reaction such as amine. The resulting lower aliphatic carboxylic acid ester of Nojigiku alcohol or Nojigiku alcohol obtd. by hydrolyzing the ester, that is, 2,2- dimethyl-3-methylenebicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-5-ol or its ester is extracted with a solvent such as hexane to obtain Nojigiku alcohol or its ester. Said lower aliphatic carboxylic acid acts as a reactive reagent as well as a solvent, and the preferred amount of the acid used is about 40-80mol per 1mol tricyclene and/or camphene.