oripavine

Oripavine is a phenanthrene alkaloid naturally found in poppy plants such as Papaver bracteatum, Papaver orientale, and Papaver somniferum. It is an opioid and a major metabolite of thebaine. Although oripavine possesses analgesic potency comparable to morphine, it is not used clinically due to severe adverse effects, including tonic-clonic seizures, and a low therapeutic index. Its primary significance lies in its role as a key starting material (KSM) for the chemical synthesis of various potent semi-synthetic opioids, including opioid agonists (e.g., etorphine), partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine), and opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone, naltrexone). Due to its easy convertibility into other controlled substances, oripavine is itself a controlled substance in many jurisdictions globally.

Other names

3-O-desmethylthebaine6,7,8,14-Tetradehydro-4,5alpha-epoxy-6-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3-olMorphine Hydrochloride Imp. C (EP)