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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

BIOSYNTHESIS OF MORPHINE (thesis)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4249847

A study was made of the biosynthesis of morphine by the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. The plants were grown in a chamber in an atmosphere of radioactive carbon dioxide. Extensive studies on the chemistry of morphinones are described. A literature survey was made of the paper chromatography of opium alkaloids. Two methods are described which were found to work very well. Methods are described for the determination of the specific activities of the morphine type alkaloids in photosynthetic products. Reaction mechanisms are discussed. (C. R.)

Research Organization:
California. Univ., Berkeley. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
NSA Number:
NSA-13-016678
OSTI ID:
4249847
Report Number(s):
UCRL-8576
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English