Formic Acid → Nalbuphine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a dried flask was added triethylamine (0.87 g, 8.6 mmol, 1.2 mL) and acetonitrile (5 mL). To this solution was added >96% HCO2H (0.99 g, 21.5 mmol, 0.81 mL). After stirring under nitrogen for 15 minutes, N-(cyclobutylmethyl)-noroxymorphone (1.02 g, 2.9 mmol) was added. Then, dichloro(p-cymene)ruthenium (II) dimer (10 mg, 0.0163 mmol) followed by (1S,2S)-(+)-N-tosyl-diphenylethylene diamine (12 mg, 0.033 mmol) were added. This reaction was stirred for 72 hours at room temperature. HPLC analysis indicated that the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure forming a thick brown oil. Slurring the oil in acetonitrile (15 mL) for 18 hours yielded a brown solid. The solid was isolated by filtration, which was washed with acetonitrile (10 mL). Drying the solid yielded nalbuphine (0.85 g, 83% yield, 6-α: 99%) as a tan solid.

Provenance & Evidence