Antitussives Ethyl morphine

Molecular modifications of the morphine skeleton have produced numerous derivatives with antitussive properties, some of which have become commercially significant. Ethyknorphine [76-58-4] (29), a simple homologue of codeine, is prepared by ethylating morphine. It is pharmacologically similar to codeine but is seldom used clinically. Pholcodine [509-67-1] (30), the morpholinoethyl derivative of morphine, is used as an antitussive in a number of European countries. It is about one and a half times as potent as codeine, has Htde or no analgesic activity, and produces minimal physical dependence. The compound is prepared by the amino alkylation of morphine (48). 

NIH 5145) is a dithienyl compound, an opioid receptor AGONIST, with OPIOID ANALGESIC activity, ethylmorphine [ban] is the 3-ethyl ether of morphine, and is an OPIOID RECEPTOR AGONIST, with OPIOID ANALGESIC and ANTITUSSIVE activity. 

Morphine was among the first compounds to undergo structure modification. Ethylmorphine (the 3-ethyl ether of morphine) was introduced as a medicine in 1898. Diacetylmorphine (heroin), which may be considered to be the first synthetic pro-drug, was synthesized in 1874 and marketed as a nonaddicting analgesic, antidiarrheal, and antitussive agent in 1898. 

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