The chemistry of the Wellcome test for morphine
Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City (CDMX), Mexico.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Chemistry and Pharmacy, 2021, 01(02), 001–004.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjcp.2021.1.2.0025
Publication history:
Received on 10 June 2021; revised on 28 July 2021; accepted on 30 July 2021
Abstract:
The use of chlorinated lime for morphine identification has several advantages. The reaction is fast and simple, and the reagent is inexpensive. Besides, the developed red colour comes from the organic compound, not from a reduced inorganic reagent. The last case only indicates oxido-reduction reaction, but it is alien to the final structure of the organic compound under test. In the Wellcome assay the red colour is typical of an o-quinone, the inorganic compounds being colourless. Since the chemistry related to this test has not been described, we provide the route from the alkaloid to the final colourful compound, and also a new preparation of o-quinones from o-halo phenols.
Keywords:
Calcium chlorohypoclorite; Concerted reaction mechanism; Gem-Dichloro ketone; O-Quinone; Sigma complex
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Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0