History
Morphine was first isolated in its crystal form by pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner in 1817. Because of the pain relief effects of the opium poppy, many chemists were attempting in the decade beforehand to extract what was later to be called morphine. With the extraction of morphine also was a milestone as it was the first alkaloid to be isolated. Since its discovery its use has become widespread both as a painkiller, for its recreational effects, and was once thought to be a cure for opium and alcohol addiction(CITATION). Though it has been shown to have addictive properties its use has been limited to prescriptions it is still widely used for pain treatment despite risks associated with it.
Physical Properties
Morphine shares most of …show more content…
The pH of the solution must be carefully checked at every step. There is also the importance of temperature in chemical equilibrium to ensure as much of the product is produced. Since many of these reactions are endothermic heating is used in many of the steps.
Synthesis
Though Morphine is generally extracted from the poppy for the benefit of yield it has been synthesized. It was first done it 1952 by Marshall D. Gates. His reason for this was to give proof for the structure that was predicted for it by Robert Robinson (). While he lacked many modern methods of synthesis Gates was able to prove Robinson by determining all of the intermediate molecules and determining the way that they would react. Since this first synthesis much more have been discovered. Many of them happened in the past 20 years.
Morphine is also used in the synthesis of related opiate medication. A majority of the morphine produced is used in the synthesis of codeine because of its addiction potential being much lower. And for the drug trade morphine is converted into heroin because it is more highly sought for. …show more content…
Since its extraction there have been many other extractions of alkaloids from plants and a branch of alkaloid chemistry has been made. Morphine also brought a change to pain management in medicine. Before its use, there were no drugs to deal with pain or methods of sedation for surgery. It is also still one of the most potent pain relief medication and is what all new medications are compared to. Though the scientific significance morphine has is considered good the social effects it has made are more notorious. Due to its potential to cause a physical addiction it has plagued nations with drug addiction even if it was prescribed for health issues. “Soldier's Disease” was a term given to some of the first victims of morphine addiction; for soldiers in the civil war they were given morphine and opium for injuries sustained in battle and when they returned home they were noticeably addicted to the medications used(http://www.news-medical.net/health/Morphine-History.aspx). Even though its distribution has been lowered its prescription replacements are based on the same molecule. They are still opiates and have many if not all of the same negative effects. Even without morphine the plague of opiate addiction it started is still a large issue for governments that is being
Morphine was first isolated in its crystal form by pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner in 1817. Because of the pain relief effects of the opium poppy, many chemists were attempting in the decade beforehand to extract what was later to be called morphine. With the extraction of morphine also was a milestone as it was the first alkaloid to be isolated. Since its discovery its use has become widespread both as a painkiller, for its recreational effects, and was once thought to be a cure for opium and alcohol addiction(CITATION). Though it has been shown to have addictive properties its use has been limited to prescriptions it is still widely used for pain treatment despite risks associated with it.
Physical Properties
Morphine shares most of …show more content…
The pH of the solution must be carefully checked at every step. There is also the importance of temperature in chemical equilibrium to ensure as much of the product is produced. Since many of these reactions are endothermic heating is used in many of the steps.
Synthesis
Though Morphine is generally extracted from the poppy for the benefit of yield it has been synthesized. It was first done it 1952 by Marshall D. Gates. His reason for this was to give proof for the structure that was predicted for it by Robert Robinson (). While he lacked many modern methods of synthesis Gates was able to prove Robinson by determining all of the intermediate molecules and determining the way that they would react. Since this first synthesis much more have been discovered. Many of them happened in the past 20 years.
Morphine is also used in the synthesis of related opiate medication. A majority of the morphine produced is used in the synthesis of codeine because of its addiction potential being much lower. And for the drug trade morphine is converted into heroin because it is more highly sought for. …show more content…
Since its extraction there have been many other extractions of alkaloids from plants and a branch of alkaloid chemistry has been made. Morphine also brought a change to pain management in medicine. Before its use, there were no drugs to deal with pain or methods of sedation for surgery. It is also still one of the most potent pain relief medication and is what all new medications are compared to. Though the scientific significance morphine has is considered good the social effects it has made are more notorious. Due to its potential to cause a physical addiction it has plagued nations with drug addiction even if it was prescribed for health issues. “Soldier's Disease” was a term given to some of the first victims of morphine addiction; for soldiers in the civil war they were given morphine and opium for injuries sustained in battle and when they returned home they were noticeably addicted to the medications used(http://www.news-medical.net/health/Morphine-History.aspx). Even though its distribution has been lowered its prescription replacements are based on the same molecule. They are still opiates and have many if not all of the same negative effects. Even without morphine the plague of opiate addiction it started is still a large issue for governments that is being