Morphinone

Morphinone

Morphinone is an opioid and a key intermediate in the production of morphine in the human body. It is also the final product in the synthesis of morphine in the pharmaceutical industry. Morphinone itself is not a powerful analgesic, but it is the precursor to several potent opioids, including morphine and heroin.

Chemistry

Morphinone is a ketone, a type of organic compound characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group. The carbonyl group in morphinone is located at the 6-position, making it a 6-ketone. This is in contrast to morphine, which is a 6-alcohol. The conversion of morphine to morphinone involves the oxidation of the 6-alcohol to a ketone.

Pharmacology

Morphinone is not used clinically due to its low potency and undesirable side effects. However, it is a key intermediate in the production of several potent opioids. The conversion of morphinone to morphine involves the reduction of the ketone to an alcohol, a reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme morphinone reductase. This enzyme is found in the liver and is responsible for the conversion of morphinone to morphine in the human body.

Synthesis

In the pharmaceutical industry, morphinone is synthesized from thebaine, an alkaloid found in the opium poppy. Thebaine is first converted to oripavine, which is then converted to morphinone. The final step in the synthesis of morphine from morphinone is the reduction of the ketone to an alcohol.

See also

• Opioid
• Morphine
• Heroin
• Thebaine
• Oripavine