L-selectride as a general reagent for the O-demethylation and N-decarbomethoxylation of opium alkaloids and derivatives

L-Selectride was shown to be an efficient and general O-demethylating agent for the opium alkaloids and their derivatives and also an efficient reagent for the cleavage of methyl carbamates, thus offering a convenient method for the N-demethylation of opioids. Further, it was shown that by choice of reaction conditions it is possible to achieve both N-decarbomethoxylation and O-demethylation in one pot, or only render N-decarbomethoxylation in high yield without accompanying O-demethylation.