THC-O-acetate

THC-O-acetate

File:THCacetate.png
Identifiers
IUPAC name O-acetyl-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
CAS Number	23132-17-4
PubChem CID	198013
E number	{{#property:P628}}
ECHA InfoCard	{{#property:P2566}}
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C23H32O3
Molar mass	356.498 g/mol

THC acetate ester is a derivative of THC which has been found by the DEA as an apparent controlled substance analogue of THC. It was apparently made by extracting and purifying THC from cannabis plant material followed by reaction with acetic anhydride in an analogous manner to how heroin is made from morphine. It is unclear what advantage was sought by the acetylation of THC as the parent compound is already highly lipophillic, but it is likely that the manufacturer erroneously thought that potency or subjective effects would be increased in an analogous manner to the difference between morphine and heroin. Nevertheless this derivative of THC is interesting as one of the only analogues of THC to have been encountered as a recreational drug sold and used in a highly pure smokable form.