Question
Biology Question on Principles of Inheritance and Variation
Drug called 'Heroin' is synthesized by:
A
(A) Methylation of morphine
B
(B) Acetylation of morphine
C
(C) Glycosylation of morphine
D
(D) Nitration of morphine
Answer
(B) Acetylation of morphine
Explanation
Solution
Explanation:
'Heroin', commonly called smack and is chemically diacetylmorphine which is synthesized by acetylation of morphine.Heroin is a crude preparation of diamorphine. It is a semisynthetic product obtained by acetylation of morphine, which occurs as a natural product in opium: the dried latex of certain poppy species (e.g. Papaver somniferum L.). Diamorphine is a narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of severe pain.Hence, the correct option is (B).