4-Dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst in heroin synthesis
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors
Published on: April 27, 2017
1Forensic Science Institute, Ministry of the Interior, Vodovodna 95, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. sonja.klemenc@policija.si
Abstract:
In this paper, we describe an acetylating method for fast synthesis of heroin from morphine in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP) as a catalyst. In the reaction which led to heroin formation, the morphine base was subjected to a solution made up of 4-DMAP (catalyst), methylene chloride (solvent) and acetic anhydride (acetylating agent). We showed that in comparison with classic acetylating procedures, reaction time can be reduced from at least several hours at elevated temperatures to <10 min at room temperature. In general, reaction time is dependent on the molar concentration ratio between morphine and 4-DMAP.
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