Hydrogen Peroxide → (4R,4aS,12bS)-4a-hydroxy-9-methoxy-3-methyl-2,4,7a,13-tetrahydro-1H-4,12-methanobenzofuro[3,2-e]isoquinolin-7-one

Participants

Reaction Steps

In the first method of this invention, codeinone is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in water in the presence of an acid at about 15° to about 70° C. for a period of time depending on the scale of the reaction to afford 14-hydroxycodeinone in good yield. 14-Hydroxycodeinone so produced is hydrogenated in the same reaction media with a catalyst to afford oxycodone in good yield. Preferably the temperature is between about 40° to about 50° C. and the acid is formic acid.

Provenance & Evidence