Manufacture of Ethyl-morphine by Heating of Morphine with Bromide of Ethyl.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899
⚫Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Manufacture of Ethyl-morphine by Heating of Morphine with
Bromide of Ethyl.
-
JOSEPH FREIHERR VON MERING, Professor, 49, Friedrichstrasse, Halle a/S, in
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I have found that by heating of bromide of ethyl with morphine and a solution
of alkali in alcohol at temperature of 80-100 degree Cels. are obtained 100%
ethyl-morphine. By the action of iodide of ethyl Grimaux (Compt. rend. Vol. 92)
obtained 40-45 per cent. ethyl-norphine; by the action of chloride of ethyl is
obtained, how I have found, only 25 per cent.
Manufacture of Ethyl-morphine by Heating of Morphine with
Bromide of Ethyl.
I, JOSEPH FREIERR VON MERING, Professor of Medicine, a subject of the
German Emperor, and a resident of Halle-on-the-Saale, Friedrichstrasse 40,
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
It is known that by the action of iodide of ethyl upon an alkaline solution of
morphine ethyl-morphine can be produced. The yield, however is absolutely
insufficient, as has already been pointed out by Grimaux, the discoverer of ethyl
morphine (see Comptes rendus Vol. 92 1881 pg. 1142,) seeing that on hundred
grame of morphine yield but forty to forty-five grams of ethyl-morphine. In the
hope that the production of ethyl-morphine by the action of bromide of ethyl
upon an alkaline solution of morphine would meet with less difficulties I have
dissolved morphine in alkali, adding sodium .or caustic soda in
calculated quantities, an have them added bromide of ethyl in calculated
quantities. The mixture was subsequently heated for one or two hours at a
temperature varying between 80° and 100° Centigrade in a digester or upon a
water-bath.
In the process it has been found that the formation of ethyl morphine proceeds
smoothly and that the output is almost a theoretical one. To obtain morphine
ethers, Grimaux has used allyl bromide, (univalent unsaturated,) ethylene bromide
(bivalent saturated) and epichlorhydrin, (trivalent saturated.) For producing

page_text: morphine ethers, however, Grimaux has not utilized bromo halogen derivatives
of alcohol, derivatives of paraffin 'series, (univalent saturated alcohol radicals;).
and especially not ethyl bromide. Ethyl bromide has never been used for this
purpose, probably owing to the fact that the unsatisfactory result with jodo-ethyl
precluded its use. It must be especially stated that according to my experiences
I have found that by the action of bromide of methyl on an alkaline solution of
morphine only twenty-five per cent. of methyl-morphine is obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and' in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is::
-
A method of manufacture of ethyl morphine by causing bromide of ethyl to
act upon an alkaline solution of morphine.
Dated this 31st day of March 1900.
PROFESSOR JOSEPH FREIHERR VON MERING,
Halle.