Oxonium ion intermediates in the rearrangement of thebaine
Abstract
The rearrangement of thebaine and its metho-salts in trifluoroacetic acid has been shown to involve red oxonium ion intermediates. Quaternary salts of 7,8-dehydrometathebainone have been isolated and a convenient preparation of neodihydrothebaine from thebaine has been devised.