Methyldesorphine Explained

Methyldesorphine is an opioid analgesic. First synthesized in Germany in 1940 and patented in the US in 1952,^[1] it has a high potential for abuse as with any potent opioid agonist, and is sometimes found along with desomorphine as a component of the home-made opioid mixture known as "Krokodil" used in Russia and the neighboring former Soviet republics.^[2] It is approximately 15 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic^{[3] [4]} but if the 6-7 bond is saturated, the β isomer is some 50 times more potent than morphine.

Methyldesorphine is listed as a Schedule I Narcotic controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act 1970 in the United States with a DEA ACSCN of 9302 and zero annual aggregate manufacturing quota. The free base conversion ratio of the hydrochloride is 0.89.^[5]

See also

• 6-Methylenedihydrodesoxymorphine

Notes and References

1. US . 2694068 . patent . Δ6-Desoxymorphine Compounds and Process of Producing the Same . 1952-08-05 . 1954-09-11 . Payne GB, Pfister III K . Merck & Co., Inc. .
2. Savchuk SA, Barsegyan SS, Barsegyan IB, Kolesov GM . 195068778 . Chromatographic Study of Expert and Biological Samples Containing Desomorphine . 10.1007/s10809-008-4009-5 . Journal of Analytical Chemistry . 63 . 4 . 361–370. 2008 .
3. Book: Casy AF, Parfitt RY . Opioid Analgesics, Chemistry and Receptors . 1986 . Plenum Press . New York . 37–38 . 0-306-42130-5 .
4. Book: Lenz GR, Evans SM, Walters DE, Hopfinger AJ . Opiates . 1986 . 63 . Academic Press . 978-0-12-443830-9 .
5. Web site: Conversion Factors for Controlled Substances . Diversion Control Division . Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice .