Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for preparing p-menthane-3,8-diol, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a. preparing an aqueous solution comprising between 0.05% and 5% by mass of an ammonium salt, the ammonium salt being characterised in that it is selected from the group formed by an amino acid ammonium salt, and in particular an amino acid hydrochloride, a vitamin B ammonium salt, and in particular a vitamin B hydrochloride, and any one of the derivatives thereof, and in particular an ammonium salt of an amino acid ester, or an ammonium salt of a vitamin B ester, or is defined by the following formula (I): (I) wherein R1 represents a benzyl, optionally substituted, or R1 represents an alkyl, linear or branched, optionally cyclical, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted, comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R2, R3 and R4 represent a hydrogen or a methyl group, and X represents a chlorine atom, bromine atom or an OR' group, R' being an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, b. adding citronellal to the aqueous solution obtained in step a), and obtaining a mixture, c. stirring and heating the mixture obtained in step b), d. decanting the reaction medium obtained at the end of step c), and obtaining at least two phases, and e. separating the at least two phases obtained in step d), and obtaining at least one aqueous phase and at least one organic phase, the organic phase comprising at least p-menthane-3,8-diol.