Definition
ChEBI: Levallorphan is a morphinane alkaloid.
brand name
Lorfan (Roche).
Clinical Use
Levallorphan
is an opioid antagonist with practically
no analgesic action. It has been used as
one of the first relative pure antagonists for the
treatment of opioid overdosage, to reverse opioid
central depression and to antagonize opioidinduced
respiratory impairment . The compound
is now replaced by naloxone .
Synthesis
Starting material for the levallorphan
synthesis is 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro isoquinoline (1)
.
Purification Methods
It crystallises from aqueous EtOH. It is a narcotic antagonist. [Schneider & Grüssner Helv Chim Acta 34 2211 1951, Hellerbach Helv Chim Acta 39 429 1956.]
