Chemically codeine is

Options

A. Monomethylated Morphine
B. Dimethylated Morphine
C. Monobenzoate Morphine
D. Dibenzoate Morphine

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Codeine**: Codeine is classified as an alkaloid, which is a naturally occurring compound that contains basic nitrogen atoms. Alkaloids are known for their physiological effects on living organisms.

2. **Relation to Morphine**: Codeine is chemically related to morphine, which is another well-known alkaloid. Both compounds share a similar structure, but there is a key difference in their chemical composition.

3. **Identifying the Chemical Structure**: The structure of codeine can be compared to that of morphine. The primary difference lies in the functional groups attached to the core structure. Morphine has a hydroxyl group (-OH), while codeine has a methoxy group (-OCH3) instead.

4. **Methylation Process**: The transformation from morphine to codeine involves a methylation process, where a methyl group (CH3) is added to the hydroxyl group of morphine, resulting in the formation of codeine. This process is referred to as monomethylation.

5. **Choosing the Correct Option**: Given the options provided:
- A) Monomethylated morphine
- B) Dimethylated morphine
- C) Monobenzoic morphine
- D) Dibenzoic morphine

The correct answer is option A, as codeine is indeed a monomethylated form of morphine.

**Final Answer**: Codeine is chemically known as monomethylated morphine.

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