Why is codeine's IUPAC name methyl morphine when its a the difference between codeine and morphine is a methoxy group?
Why is Heroin known as diacetylmorphine when the two extra bits are esters
It would be a huge help if anyone could break it down for me
Why is Heroin known as diacetylmorphine when the two extra bits are esters
It would be a huge help if anyone could break it down for me
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First off, methyl morphine is not exactly IUPAC and can be taken as two molecules - 3-methyl morphine, which is codeine, and 6-methyl morphine, heterocodeine. The proper IUPAC name is, according to Wikipedia: (5α,6α)-7,8-didehydro-4,5-epoxy-3 -methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-diol
Second, the extra substituent in codeine IS a methyl group, not a methoxy group - the oxygen atom to that methoxy group is already present in morphine. The same goes with heroin: the linking oxygen atoms are already structure elements of morphine, the extra substituents are acetyl (CH3-(C=O)-) groups, so both these names - though not really IUPAC - make sense.
Second, the extra substituent in codeine IS a methyl group, not a methoxy group - the oxygen atom to that methoxy group is already present in morphine. The same goes with heroin: the linking oxygen atoms are already structure elements of morphine, the extra substituents are acetyl (CH3-(C=O)-) groups, so both these names - though not really IUPAC - make sense.