Canopy Growth Corporation
IMPROVED METHODS FOR CONVERTING CANNABIDIOL INTO DELTA8-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL

Abstract:

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