Butorphanol structure

The fragment in Figure 9.40 was characteristic of the nucleus of the molecule and provided an important pointer in the elucidation of structure of the other degradants. By comparison with mass spectrum obtained for butorphanol, the degradants shown in Figure 9.41 were found to be present. 

TABLE 6.20 Butorphanol degradants from long-term stability storage of an aqueous formulation identified with LC/MS and template structure analysis... 

Butorphanol tartrate is a synthetically derived opioid agonist-antagonist analgesic of the phenanthrene series, structurally similar to levorphanol. In the USA, butorphanol is used as a substitute for meperidine for patients complaining of moderate pain. Butorphanol and other mixed agonist-antagonists appear to be more effective in female patients and are primarily prescribed for visceral pain and headache [ 1,2]. It is used to control pain associated with ureteral and gaU stones and is also employed for labor and delivery analgesia. 

---