Synthesis+of+THC


 * __The Biosynthesis of THC__ **

Cannabinoids are found in the plant species, Cannabis sativa, also known by it's common name of marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive component found in this plant. The process through which tetrahdrocannabinol is synthesized begins with the the cannabinoids being cyclized and leading to olivetolic acid. Geranylpyrophosphate (GPP) leads to cycloalkylation, which in turn produces cannabigerolic acid. This acid is the substrate for which tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is synthesized. Once tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is furnished, decarboxylation occurrs, yielding the component of THC. The decarboxylation of THCA to THC can be used be external factors such as temperature and light.

"Synthetic" THC
THC as described earlier, can be producd within the plant itself by naturally occurring processes, but it can also be synthesized in a lab by the reaction of certain compounds. The synthetic version of THC is known as Dronabinol. It serves the same purposes that natural THC does, but it can be produced in large amounts for pharmeceutical purposes. In order for Dronabinol to be formed the compound known as cis-menth-1-ene-3,8-diol must react with olivetol in order to produce the correct "aryl substituted" cylcohexene. The newly formed cyclohexene has the hydroxyl-isopropyl and aryl substituents arranged in the trans confguration, which is required for dronabinol. The compound is crystalline and can therefore undergo recrystallization easily, followed by cyclization. The cyclization of this intermediate retains it's stereochemistry and produces pure dronabinol. This process usually takes about 2-8 hours to complete, but is the most effective and efficient way of producing dronabinol. Other ways of producing dronabinol are available such as alternate synthetic routes and extraction. The alternate synthetic routes tend to be tedious because they produce multiple stereoisomers that are invalid to the production of dronabinol. Extraction presents the same problems but with other natural occurring steroisomers.