Question

Drug called 'Heroin' is synthesized by: (1) methylation of morphine (2) acetylation of morphine (3) glycosylation of morphine (4) nitration of morphine

• A. methylation of morphine
• B. acetylation of morphine
• C. glycosylation of morphine
• D. nitration of morphine

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The question asks about the synthesis process of the drug known as 'Heroin' from morphine. Heroin is known chemically as diacetylmorphine. This name itself gives a hint about its synthesis process.

Let's analyze the given options:

• Methylation of morphine: This process would involve adding a methyl group to morphine. Heroin is not synthesized by adding methyl groups.
• Acetylation of morphine: This involves adding acetyl groups to morphine. In the case of heroin, morphine is acetylated, adding acetyl groups to its structure, thus forming diacetylmorphine, which is the chemical name for heroin.
• Glycosylation of morphine: This would involve adding sugar (glycosyl) groups, which is unrelated to heroin synthesis.
• Nitration of morphine: This process involves adding nitro groups, which is not relevant to the synthesis of heroin.

Based on the above analysis, the correct answer is that heroin is synthesized by the acetylation of morphine.

Conclusion: The correct option is acetylation of morphine. This is the process by which acetyl groups are added to the morphine molecule, transforming it into heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine.