Δ-10-Tetrahydrocannabinol Explained

Δ-10-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-10-THC, Δ¹⁰-THC, alternatively numbered as Δ²-THC) is a positional isomer of tetrahydrocannabinol, discovered in the 1980s. Two enantiomers have been reported in the literature, with the 9-methyl group in either the (R) or (S) conformation; of these, the (R) enantiomer appears to be the more active isomer as well as the double bond in the 10th position instead of the 9th maintaining about 30 to 40 percent the potency of delta-9-THC.^{[1] [2] [3]} Δ¹⁰-THC has rarely been reported as a trace component of natural cannabis, though it is thought to be a degradation product similar to cannabinol rather than being produced by the plant directly. However, it is found more commonly as an impurity in synthetic delta-8-THC produced from cannabidiol^{[4] [5] [6]} and can also be synthesized directly from delta-9-THC.^[7]

See also

• 7,8-Dihydrocannabinol
• 9-OH-HHC
• Delta-3-Tetrahydrocannabinol
• Delta-4-Tetrahydrocannabinol
• Delta-7-Tetrahydrocannabinol
• Delta-6-Cannabidiol
• Hexahydrocannabinol
• THC-O-acetate

Notes and References

1. Srebnik M, Lander N, Breuer A, Mechoulam R . Base-catalysed double-bond isomerizations of cannabinoids: structural and stereochemical aspects. . Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1 . 1984 . 2881–6 . 10.1039/P19840002881 .
2. Järbe TU, Hiltunen AJ, Mechoulam R, Srebnik M, Breuer A . Separation of the discriminative stimulus effects of stereoisomers of delta 2- and delta 3-tetrahydrocannabinols in pigeons . European Journal of Pharmacology . 156 . 3 . 361–6 . November 1988 . 2850933 . 10.1016/0014-2999(88)90281-6 .
3. WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Critical Review. Isomers of THC. . World Health Organization . 2018 .
4. Hanuš LO, Meyer SM, Muñoz E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Appendino G . Phytocannabinoids: a unified critical inventory . Natural Product Reports . 33 . 12 . 1357–1392 . November 2016 . 27722705 . 10.1039/c6np00074f . free .
5. Chan-Hosokawa A, Nguyen L, Lattanzio N, Adams WR . Emergence of Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in DUID Investigation Casework: Method Development, Validation and Application . Journal of Analytical Toxicology . 46. 1. March 2021 . 1–9 . 33754645 . 10.1093/jat/bkab029 . free .
6. https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/natural-products/Delta-8-THC-craze-concerns/99/i31 Erickson BE. Delta-8-THC craze concerns chemists. Chemical & Engineering News, 30 August 2021
7. Adair C, Geiling B, Haghdoost Manjili M. . Canopy Growth Corporation . 2020-12-17 . Methods for preparing cannabinoids by base-promoted double-bond migration. . WO . 2020248059 .