Cocaine → Ecgonine

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Commercially available (−)-cocaine (Sigma Chemical Co.) was dissolved in 1.25 M HCl (1 g cocaine/12 ml). The mixture was allowed to stir for 16 hours at 110-115° C. (gentle reflux). After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was thoroughly extracted with ether to remove the benzoic acid by-product. The acidic aqueous layer was evaporated on a rotary evaporator under high vacuum and then the residue was redissolved in water and lyophilized to afford a white solid that required no further purification (92% yield).

Provenance & Evidence