Preparation of oxycodone from codeine

Abstract

A process is provided for preparing oxycodone from codeine comprising either: (A) the steps of (1) oxidizing codeine so as to form codeinone; (2) converting codeinone to oxycodone in a two-step-one-pot reaction: first reacting codeinone with hydrogen peroxide in water in the presence of an acid at from about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. to form 14-hydroxycodeinone and then catalytically hydrogenating 14-hydroxycodeinone in its original reaction mixture to form oxycodone; or (B) the steps of (1) oxydizing codeine so as to form codeinone; (2) reacting codeinone with an acylating agent so as to form codeinone dienol acylate; (3) oxidizing codeinone dienol acylate with an oxidation agent in water or a solubilizing solvent mixture in the presence of an acid at from about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. to form 14-hydroxycodeinone; (4) hydrogenating 14-hydroxycodeinone in its original reaction mixture to form oxycodone.

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