Canopy Growth Corporation
IMPROVED METHODS FOR CONVERTING CANNABIDIOL INTO DELTA9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL UNDER NEAT OR APROTIC REACTION CONDITIONS

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a method for converting cannabidiol (CBD) into a composition comprising .DELTA..sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.9-THC) and .DELTA..sup.8-tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.8-THC) in which the composition has a .DELTA..sup.9-THC:.DELTA..sup.8-THC ratio of greater than 1.0:1.0. The method comprises contacting the CBD with a Lewis-acidic heterogeneous reagent under reaction conditions comprising: (i) an aprotic-solvent system; (ii) a reaction temperature that is less than a threshold reaction temperature for the Lewis-acidic heterogeneous reagent and the aprotic-solvent system; and (iii) a reaction time that is less than a threshold reaction time for the Lewis-acidic heterogeneous reagent, the aprotic-solvent system, and the reaction temperature. Methods for converting CBD into a composition comprising .DELTA..sup.9-THC and .DELTA..sup.8-THC in which the composition has a .DELTA..sup.9-THC:.DELTA..sup.8-THC ratio of greater than 1.0:1.0 under neat reaction conditions are also provided.