2-Carbomethoxytropinone
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2-Carbomethoxytropinone (2-CMT) is a commonly used organic intermediate in the synthesis of cocaine and its analogues.[1] As of at least 1999 no reaction pathway has been discovered that synthesizes cocaine-like compounds without utilizing the reduction of 2-CMT.[2] The structure of cocaine was discovered by Richard Willstätter in 1898 after he synthesized it from 2-carbomethoxytropinone.[3][4] Although it was originally believed that 2-CMT in nature was ultimately derived from ornithine and acetic acid,[5] subsequent research has indicated other pathways exist for the biosynthesis of 2-CMT.[6][7] A β-keto ester, 2-CMT exists in equilibrium with its keto–enol tautomer.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Methyl 3-oxotropane-2β-carboxylate | |
| Systematic IUPAC name
Methyl (1R,2R,5S)-8-methyl-3-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate | |
| Other names
Carbomethoxy-tropinone; 2-Carbomethoxy-3-tropinone; Carbmethoxy-tropinone; Methyl 8-methyl-3-oxobicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate; Methyl 8-methyl-3-oxo-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-4-carboxylate; 2-(Methoxycarbonyl)-3-tropanone | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
PubChem CID |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C10H15NO3 | |
| Molar mass | 197.234 g·mol−1 |
| Melting point | 104 °C (219 °F; 377 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Synthesis
2-CMT (3) can be synthesized from 1,3-acetonedicarboxylate anhydride (1) by methanolysis followed by reaction with methylamine and succinaldehyde.[8]

