Alkaloid biosynthesis. Part X. Terminal Steps in the Biosynthesis of the Morphine Alkaloids
Abstract
[2-3H]Morphine has been prepared and the stability of its label under a variety of conditions has been studied. The morphine has been converted into [2-3H]codeine and [2-3H]codeinone and the former has been used with [6-3H]codeine in double-labelling experiments with poppy plants. The results show that codeinone can serve as a precursor of codeine and morphine and that the step involving reduction of the carbonyl group is not significantly reversed. Other experiments with [3H]shikimic acid are described.