Tags: Drug.
Heterocodeine (6-methoxymorphine) is an opiate derivative the 6-methyl ether of morphine and a structural isomer of codeine; it is called hetero- because it is the reverse isomer of codeine. Heterocodeine was first synthesised in 1932 and first patented in 1935. It can be made from morphine by selective methylation. Codeine is the natural mono-methyl ether but must be metabolized for activity (that is it is a prodrug).
