Synthesis of derivatives of codeine and other 3-O-alkylmorphines

摘要

A 14-hydroxy group is introduced into a morphinan structure by singlet oxygen reaction with a novel dienol ester of an N-substituted-3-O-alkylnormorphinone. The resultant N-substituted-3-O-alkyl-141-hydroxynormorphinone is also a novel compound which may be catalytically hydrogenated to produce a novel N-substituted-3-O-alkylnoroxymorphone. The latter intermediate may be converted to a 3-O-alkylnoroxymorphone by hydrolytic removal of the N-substituent and to noroxymorphone by both hydrolysis and O-dealkylation. The dienol ester intermediate is prepared by N-demethylation of codeine or other 3-O-alkylmorphine by reaction with a cyanogen halide or haloformate ester, followed by oxidation of the resultant N-substituted-3-O-alkylnormorphine to an N-substituted-3-O-alkylnormorphinone and esterification of the latter with an acid anhydride or acid halide.