Additional reaction of α-pinene with formic acid under microwave irradiation was studied,and the optimun experiment factors are as follows:0.03 mol of α-pinene,0.15 mol of formic acid,(7.14×10~(-4 ) mol) of sulfuric acid(catalyst),700 W of the microwave power,40 min of the reaction time.The content of the main product terpinyl formate is up to 60.4%,the selectivity is 64.5% in the optimun experiment factors.In summary,the microwave technique cann’t remarkably promote the synthesis of the terpinyl formate with a high yield and rate.The further efforts are needed on the study of microwave.