| abstract |
Dronabinol, the tetrahydrocannabinol compound which comprises the active constituent of marijuana and is pharmaceutically useful as an antiemetic, is prepared by a process involving reaction of cis-menth-1-enc-3,8-diol with olivetol to form 1,3-dihydroxy-2-[(1R,6R)-6-(2-hydroxyprop-2-yl)-3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-5-pentylbenzene; and cyclizing the 1,3-dihydroxy-2-[(1R,6R)-6-(2-hydroxyprop-2-yl)-3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-5-pentylbenzene so formed to obtain dronabinol. A novel synthesis of cis-menth-1-ene-3,8-diolis also provided. |