Method of producing thebaine from codeine and oripavine from morphine

Abstract

A method of producing thebaine from codeine and oripavine from morphine which comprises (a) producing the 0-6 methyl ethers from codeine and morphine using potassium hydride and methyl iodide as the O-alkylation agents and (b) subsequently oxidizing the respective 0-6 methyl ethers of codeine and morphine to shift from allylic structure to a dienol ether structure using an oxidizing amount of MnO.sub.2 in tetrahydrofuran to produce thebaine from codeine and oripavine from morphine. In the case of morphine, it is preferable to protect the 0-3 position by acetylation prior to the oxidizing step. Both the etherification and oxidizing steps are carried out under a protecting blanket such as nitrogen and the reactions are carried out preferably under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature with the exception of the etherification affecting the 0-6 position which may be commenced by cooling with ice.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.