Morphine Research Paper

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Morphine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, with a 3D structure with 5 rings (one of which is an aromatic ring). It has a methyl group attached to a nitrogen atom, and a quaternary carbon atom which is linked to a tertiary amine group by two other carbon atoms, a feature that morphine shares with many other opioids. When heated to decomposition morphine will produce nitrogen oxide gas.
IUPAC name: (4R,4aR,7S,7aR,12bS)-3-methyl-2,4,4a,7,7a,13-hexahydro-1H-4,12-methanobenzofuro[3,2-e]isoquinoline-7,9-diol
Molecular Formula: C17H19NO3
Molecular Weight: 285.33766 g/mol
Properties:
• Yellowish-white crystalline prisms
• Odourless
• Bitter
• Boiling point: 190oc
• Melting point 255oc
• pH of saturated solution: 8.5
Solubility:
One gram of hydrated morphine will dissolve in 5000mL of water, 1100mL of boiling water, 210mL of alcohol, 1220mL chloroform, and 10mL boiling methanol. It is slightly soluble in ammonia and benzene, moderately soluble in chloroform and alcohol mixtures, and completely …show more content…

Scientists have attempted to reproduce this biosynthetic pathway, and in August 2015 announced that they had successfully biosynthesised morphine in yeast. The process, however, would have to be 100,000 times more productive to be commercially viable.
The O-demethylation of codeine can also be used to produce morphine. A variety of reagents can be used, such as sodium propylmercaptide in dimethylformamide1 and boron tribromide in chloroform2. Another reagent, pyridine hydrochloride, was used by scientists Rapoport and Bonner to carry out the reaction of codeine conversion to morphine under nitrogen at 220oc. Because morphine decomposes and goes through an oxidation reaction at high temperatures, the nitrogenous atmosphere reduces and prevents this.
Chemistry of the usage

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