Camphorsulfonic acid, sometimes abbreviated CSA or 10-CSA is a organosulfur compound. Like typical sulfonic acid

Sulfonic acid

Sulfonic acid usually refers to a member of the class of organosulfur compounds with the general formula RS2–OH, where R is an alkyl or aryl. The formal part of acid, HS2–OH, are formally derivatives of the "parent" inorganic compound with the formula HSO2.-Preparation:Sulfonic acid is...

s, it is a relatively strong acid that exists as a colourless solid that is soluble in organic solvents.

This compound is commercially available. It can be prepared by sulfonation of camphor

Camphor

Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...

 with sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...

 and acetic anhydride

Acetic anhydride

Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical compound with the formula 2O. Commonly abbreviated Ac2O, it is the simplest isolatable acid anhydride and is a widely used reagent in organic synthesis...

:

In organic synthesis

Organic synthesis

Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the construction of organic compounds via organic reactions. Organic molecules can often contain a higher level of complexity compared to purely inorganic compounds, so the synthesis of organic compounds has...

, CSA and its derivatives can be used as resolving agents for chiral amines and other cations. For example, 3-bromocamphor-8-sulfonic acid was used in the synthesis of enantiopure devazepide

Devazepide

Devazepide is a drug which is structurally derived from the benzodiazepine family, but with quite different actions from most benzodiazepines, lacking affinity for GABAA receptors and instead acting as a cholecystokinin antagonist selective for the CCKA subtype...

.