Total Synthesis of (±)-3-Deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine, (±)-4-Methoxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one and 2,4-Dioxygenated (±)-Congeners

A total synthesis of racemic 3-deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine ((±)- 2 ) and 4-me-thoxy-ALmethylmorphinan-6-one ((±)- 3 ) is described. The key intermediate was 2,4-dihydroxy-N-formylmorphinan-6-one (11) , obtained from 3,5-dibenzyloxy-phenylacetic acid (4) in 41.8% overall yield. Bromination of 11 , and treatment with aqueous N_aOH-solution afforded, after N-deblocking and reductive N-methylation with concomitant removal of the aromatic bounded Br-atom, the morphinanone 14. Elimination of the HO–C(2) group in 14 was accomplished by hydrogenolysis of its N-phenyltetrazolyl ether 15 , to give 3-deoxy-6,0-didehydro-7,8-dihydromorphine (16). Reduction of 16 with L-Selectride at low temperature provided (±)- 2 in high yield. The ether 15 directly afforded, under more vigorous reduction conditions, 4-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one (17). and after O-methylation of 17 , the methyl ether (±)- 3 was obtained. A (1:l)-mixture of 4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-N-methylmor-phinan-6-one (28) and its 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy isomer 30 svere obtained by Grewe-cyclization of a mono-methoxylated aromatic precursor similar to that which afforded 11. The 2,4-dioxygenated N-methylmorphinan-6-ones 29 , 31 and 38 were also prepared and characterized.