Low abuk oxycodone, its salts and methods of making same

Abstract

A method of preparing oxycodone includes forming 14-hydroxycodeine by reduction of 14-hydroxycodeinone and rearrangement of the 14-hydroxycodeine to form the oxycodone. During the reduction step, the ketone group of an undesirable contaminant precursor, 8,14-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrocodeinone, is reduced to a hydroxyl group thus forming a triol. This triol is substantially inert with respect to reforming 14-hydroxycodeinone and can be readily separated from oxycodone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.