New methodology for the N-demethylation of opiate alkaloids

N-Demethylation is a key step in the preparation of a number of semisynthetic opiate pharmaceuticals. Herein we report a high-yielding, catalytic procedure for the N-demethylation of opiates which has a number of advantages over existing methods. For example, tetrasodium 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-sulfophenyl)porphyrinatoiron(II) (0.3 molar equiv) effected the transformation of codeine methyl ether to the corresponding N-nor analogue in 91% yield. The catalyst was readily removed and recycled.