Ultrasonic or Microwave Modified Continuous Flow Chemistry for the Synthesis of Tetrahydrocannabinol: Observing Effects of Various Solvents and Acids

ACS Omega. 2024 Mar 8;9(11):13191-13199. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09794. eCollection 2024 Mar 19.

Abstract

Synthesizing tetrahydrocannabinol is a lengthy process with minimal yields and little applicability on an industrial scale. To close the gap between bench chemistry and industry process chemistry, this paper introduces a small-scale flow chemistry method that utilizes a microwave or ultrasonic medium to produce major tetrahydrocannabinol isomers. This process produces excellent yields and minimal side products, which leads to more efficient large-scale production of the desired cannabinoids.