Concise synthesis of dimemorfan (DF) starting from 3-hydroxymorphinan (3-HM).

Dimemorfan (DF) has been known to possess neuroprotective properties. While this promising compound deserves further biological evaluation, synthetic methods have not improved since Murakami group unveiled the synthetic efforts in 1972. Herein a succinct synthesis toward DF from commercially available 3-hydroxymorphinan (3-HM) is disclosed. Other morphinan analogs have been effectively prepared by adopting the similar methodology.