Ammonia → Oxycodone Hydrochloride

Participants

Reaction Steps

4.35 g oxycodone prepared by essentially the same method as Route B was added to a flask containing ethanol (12.5 ml) and water (2.7 ml). Concentrated hydrochloric acid (approximately 1.5 ml) was added to the flask, providing a mixture with a pH of about 2. The pH of the mixture was increased to 5 by adding ammonia. The mixture was hydrogenated at 45 psi and 50° C. for 1.5 hours and then at 10–12 psi and 50–55° C. for 4 hours using a 10 wt % palladium on carbon catalyst (0.06 g). The mixture was filtered to remove the catalyst and cooled. The solid product was filtered and washed with ethanol. The product was oxycodone hydrochloride (3.706 g, 76.1%) and contained approximately 12 ppm 14-hydroxycodeinone.

Provenance & Evidence