Levallorphan is a synthetic opioid compound belonging to the morphinan family. It acts primarily as an opioid receptor antagonist with mixed agonist-antagonist activity, particularly at the μ-opioid receptor.
Levallorphan has been investigated and used historically in the management of opioid-induced respiratory depression and as an antagonist of opioid effects. Its pharmacological activity is related to its ability to compete with opioid agonists at opioid receptors.
Levallorphan is a specialized opioid pharmaceutical API requiring controlled chemical synthesis, purification and stringent analytical characterization.
Important quality attributes include identity, assay, related substances, stereochemical purity, water content, residual solvents, elemental impurities and stability.
CAS Number: 152-02-3
Molecular Formula: C17H23NO
Molecular Weight: 257.37 g/mol
Drug Class: Opioid Antagonist / Mixed Opioid Agent
Pharmacological Class: Opioid Receptor Antagonist
Therapeutic Class: Opioid Antidote / Antagonist
Therapeutic Area: Anesthesiology / Pain Management
Levallorphan interacts with opioid receptors in the central nervous system and can antagonize the effects of opioid agonists.
Its activity can:
Its pharmacological profile differs from that of highly selective pure opioid antagonists because levallorphan can exhibit mixed receptor activity.
Levallorphan has historically been used as an opioid antagonist for reversing or reducing certain opioid effects, particularly:
Its clinical use has largely been superseded by more widely used opioid antagonists in many settings.
Levallorphan is structurally related to morphinan opioid compounds and is the levorotatory stereoisomer associated with its opioid receptor activity.
The stereochemical configuration is important because opioid receptor affinity and pharmacological activity are strongly influenced by molecular stereochemistry.
Typical API manufacturing may involve:
Levallorphan API quality evaluation may include:
Levallorphan should be stored in a tightly closed container under controlled pharmaceutical storage conditions, protected from excessive heat, moisture and direct light. Because it is an opioid-related pharmaceutical substance, storage and handling should also comply with applicable controlled-substance regulations.
Levallorphan is relevant to research involving:
Levallorphan is a synthetic morphinan opioid receptor antagonist/mixed opioid agent with CAS Number 152-02-3, molecular formula C17H23NO, and molecular weight 257.37 g/mol. It has historically been used to antagonize opioid effects, including opioid-induced respiratory depression.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder |
| Identification | IR & HPLC compliant |
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.0% – 102.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 1.0% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.5% |
| Individual Impurity | ≤ 0.5% |
| Total Impurities | ≤ 1.5% |
| Water Content | NMT 1.0% |