Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
![Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58508.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes
Published on: February 6, 2019
Formal synthesis of (±)-morphine.
Jing Li1, Guo-Liang Liu, Xian-He Zhao
1State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Nanlu, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Researchers developed a new synthetic strategy for creating morphine rings B and E. Key steps included samarium(II) iodide-promoted coupling and tandem reactions for assembling crucial molecular bonds.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Synthetic Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Morphine is a vital opiate analgesic with a complex pentacyclic structure.
- Existing synthetic routes to morphine and its analogs are often lengthy and inefficient.
- Developing novel strategies for morphine synthesis is crucial for accessing new pain therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel and efficient synthetic strategy for constructing morphine rings B and E.
- To establish key bond-forming reactions for the assembly of the morphine core structure.
- To explore enantioselective synthesis of morphine.
Main Methods:
- Development of a synthetic route employing samarium(II) iodide (SmI2)-promoted reductive coupling/desulfurization.
- Utilizing a tandem alcoholysis/oxa-Michael addition sequence for key bond formations.
- Investigating asymmetric tandem alcoholysis/oxa-Michael addition for enantiocontrol.
Main Results:
- Successful construction of morphine rings B and E via a novel synthetic pathway.
- Efficient assembly of the C9-C14 and C5-O bonds using SmI2-promoted and tandem reactions.
- Demonstration of enantioselective synthesis of morphine through asymmetric tandem reactions.
Conclusions:
- A novel synthetic strategy for morphine ring construction has been established.
- The developed method offers an efficient approach to the morphine core, potentially aiding in the synthesis of new analgesics.
- The feasibility of enantioselective synthesis opens avenues for producing specific morphine enantiomers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Overview
Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis
Strong bases like NaOH or KOH deprotonate the phthalimide to form the corresponding anion, which acts as a nucleophile. Further, the anion attacks an...
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Mechanism
Multiple Halogenation of Methyl Ketones: Haloform Reaction

