Page 50 - phytochemistry II -pharmD general
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Morphine
• Morphine occurs as white crystalline powder, m.p. 254-256 ˚C with
decomposition.,
• It is levorotatory, insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in ethanol and
chloroform, insoluble in ether and benzene.
• It contains 2 OH groups, one is a phenolic at C-3 (gives a soluble phenate
with fixed alkali) and the other is a 2ry alcoholic at C-6.
• It precipitates from its acidic solution by addition of NH4OH, NH4Cl or
(NH4)2SO4 solutions.
• On methylation of the phenolic OH group→codeine.
• On heating with HC1 → apomorphine (used as emetic).
• On acetylation → diacetylmorphine (heroine).
Apomorphine
• when morphine is heated at 140C under pressure (in a sealed tube) with
HCl, apomorphine is formed. It is a semisynthetic alkaloid.
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