Claims
- 1. A process of preparing oxymorphone from morphine, comprising:
- (1) reacting morphine with (a) an acyl halide or anhydride having the formula R"C(O)-X and �R"C(O)!.sub.2 O, respectively, wherein R" is lower alkyl group and X is halogen, to form 3-acylmorphine;
- (2) oxidizing the hydroxy group of the 3-acylmorphine with an oxidizing agent so as to form the corresponding 3-acylmorphinone;
- (3) and either by (3a) or (3b):
- (3a) introducing a .beta.-oriented hydroxy group at the 14-position of the 3-acylmorphinone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and an acid at a temperature of about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. to form the 3-acyl-14-hydroxymorphinone;
- (3b) acylating the 3-acylmorphinone with an acylating agent so as to form 3-acylmorphinone dienol acylate followed by oxidizing the dienol acetate to the corresponding 3-acyl-14-hydroxymorphinone;
- (4) hydrogenating the 3-acyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form the 3-acyloxymorphone;
- (5) hydrolyzing the acyloxymorphone with aqueous acidic or basic solution to form oxymorphone.
- 2. A process of preparing oxymorphone from morphine, comprising:
- (1) reacting morphine with benzyl halide so as to form 3-benzylmorphine;
- (2) oxidizing the hydroxy group of the 3-benzylmorphine with an oxidizing agent so as to form the corresponding 3-benzylmorphinone;
- (3) and either by (3a) or (3b):
- (3a) introducing a .beta.-oriented hydroxy group at the 14-position of the 3-benzylmorphinone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and an acid at a temperature of about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. so as to form the 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone; or
- (3b) acylating the 3-benzylmorphinone with an acylating agent so as to form 3-benzylmorphinone dienol acylate followed by oxidizing the dienol acetate to the corresponding 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone;
- (4) hydrogenating the 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form oxymorphone.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 08/893,464 filed Jul. 11, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,669, which is hereby incorporated by reference and is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/022,685, filed Jul. 26, 1996, and provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/045,081, filed Apr. 29, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5112975 |
Wallace |
May 1992 |
|
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
893464 |
Jul 1997 |
|