Borneol　synthesis　faces　challenges　from　co-generated　impurities　(isoborneol/camphor)　and　competing　dehydration/dehydrogenation　during　isomerization.　Here,　Co/TiO2　is　demonstrated　as　a　selective　catalyst　for　isoborneol-to-borneol　isomerization,　effectively　suppressing　structural　degradation.　Controlled　acidity　and　cobalt　dispersion　are　identified　as　critical　factors:　TiO2＇s　moderate　acidity　promotes　isomerization,　while　strongly　acidic　supports　(e.g.,　Mordenite)　favor　dehydration　to　camphene.　Reduced　cobalt　particle　size　enhances　active-site　accessibility,　lowering　activation　energy　and　boosting　borneol　yield.　A　one-pot　two-step　process　achieves　＞62　%　borneol　content　with　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd