Process for Making Apomorphine and Apocodeine

There is provided an improved and convenient process for the synthesis of aporphines, such as apomorphine and apocodeine, by the rearrangement of the corresponding morphine or codeine derivatives. The use of a suitable water scavenger in an acid catalyzed rearrangement of the morphine derivatives unexpectedly results in a reaction temperature convenient for plant operation without sacrificing product. The method of the present invention also alleviates the cumbersome operations that were employed in the prior art to eliminate water from the reaction mixture at the elevated temperatures. This process is adaptable for the general preparation of other aporphines from the corresponding morphine congeners.