Heterocodeine

Heterocodeine (6-methylmorphine) is an opiate derivative, the 6-methyl ether of morphine, and a structural isomer of codeine. Heterocodeine was first synthesised in 1932, and can be made from morphine by selective methylation.

Heterocodeine is 6 times more potent than morphine due to the masking of the 6-hydroxy group giving greater lipophilicity, in a similar manner to 6-acetylmorphine.