Abstract:

The properties，applications and recent market demand of l-menthol are reviewed. Recent advances of four synthetic routes of l-menthol are presented. These routes start from citronellal，l-menthone，pulegone and thymol respectively. The one from citronella or thymol is already industrialized. l-menthol synthesis usually starts from inexpensive natural products. The one from thymol has the least step number，but suffers from more isomers and lower yield of l-menthol. Synthesis of l-menthol from cheap and renewable turpentine shows the potential in industrial application.

摘要：

介绍了l-薄荷醇的性质、应用与最近几年国内市场对l-薄荷醇的需求情况。着重阐述了4条l-薄荷醇合成路线及其研究进展。4条路线分别是：经由香茅醛、经由l-薄荷酮、经胡薄荷酮和经百里酚合成l-薄荷醇，香茅醛、l-薄荷酮、胡薄荷酮和百里酚在路线中可作为起始原料或中间产物。其中，以月桂烯经香茅醛合成l-薄荷醇以及由百里酚直接合成l-薄荷醇的路线，目前已实现工业化生产。l-薄荷醇的合成大多需要以天然产物为原料，价格较高。而以百里酚等石化产品为原料的合成路线虽较短，但得到的异构体较多，l-薄荷醇的收率相对较低。松节油作为可再资源，来源广泛，价廉易得，以其为原料的合成路线将具有的潜在的应用价值。