| abstract |
N-ethoxycarbonyl-14-hydroxynorcodeinone is prepared by contacting N-ethoxycarbonyl-norcodeinone enol acetate with an aromatic or aliphatic mono-basic or poly-basic peroxy-acid under reaction conditions effective for substituting an --OH group in the 14-position of the norcodeinone enol acetate. n In a preferred embodiment the reaction conditions include effecting the contacting in the presence of (A) a moderately strong acid having a pK a of from about 0.3 to about 3.5, (B) an inert organic solvent, and (C) in the substantial absence of water. n Codeine is converted to noroxymorphone by an improved process employing the above method for introducing the 14-hydroxy group into the codeine derivative. |