article · Molecules
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis with recognized medical uses, but its clinical utility is often limited by side effects. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol is another psychoactive cannabinoid that occurs naturally in low yields but is growing in popularity because of its greater stability and more straightforward synthetic manufacturing methods. Commercial interest grew substantially in the United States following the 2018 Farm Bill, leading to marketed consumer products that rely on synthetic sources of the compound. Because synthetic production can introduce impurities, including residual reagents and reaction side products, chemical analysis and impurity detection are critical. The review covers the extraction, purification, synthesis, and structural elucidation of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, alongside its pharmacological profile and interactions with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors relative to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
As commercial markets for alternative cannabinoids expand, understanding the chemical properties and potential health effects of synthetic products becomes vital. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol offers an alternative to conventional cannabis compounds, but synthetic manufacturing can introduce unknown impurities. Clarifying its extraction, synthesis, and pharmacology helps researchers and regulators ensure product quality, standardise analytical testing, and better understand how it behaves in the human body.
The work addresses an already active commercial market for synthetic delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol products. It directly informs chemical manufacturers, analytical testing laboratories, and regulatory bodies seeking methods to purify the compound and detect residual synthesis impurities. While the commercial market exists today, the review focuses on analytical characterisation and pharmacological comparison rather than outlining a new commercial product pathway.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
<i>Cannabis sativa</i> is one of the oldest plants utilized by humans for both economic and medical purposes. Although the use of cannabis started millennia ago in the Eastern hemisphere, its use has moved and flourished in the Western nations in more recent centuries. <i>C. sativa</i> is the source of psychoactive cannabinoids that are consumed as recreational drugs worldwide. The C21 aromatic hydrocarbons are restricted in their natural occurrence to cannabis (with a few exceptions). Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC) is the main psychoactive component in cannabis, with many pharmacological effects and various approved medical applications. However, a wide range of side effects are associated with the use of Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC, limiting its medical use. In 1966, another psychoactive cannabinoid, Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC) was isolated from marijuana grown in Maryland but in very low yield. Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC is gaining increased popularity due to its better stability and easier synthetic manufacturing procedures compared to Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC. The passing of the U.S. Farm Bill in 2018 led to an increase in the sale of Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC in the United States. The marketed products contain Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC from synthetic sources. In this review, methods of extraction, purification, and structure elucidation of Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC will be presented. The issue of whether Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC is a natural compound or an artifact will be discussed, and the different strategies for its chemical synthesis will be presented. Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC of synthetic origin is expected to contain some impurities due to residual amounts of starting materials and reagents, as well as side products of the reactions. The various methods of analysis and detection of impurities present in the marketed products will be discussed. The pharmacological effects of Δ<sup>8</sup>-THC, including its interaction with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in comparison with Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC, will be reviewed.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29061249
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
