Codeinone

Codeinone is an isoquinolone alkaloid found in the opium poppy. As an analgesic, it is one-third the potency of codeine. It is an important intermediate in the production of hydrocodone–a painkiller about three-quarters the potency of morphine–as well as of oxycodone, though the latter can also be synthesized from thebaine.

Chemical structure
Codeinone can be described as the methylether of morphinone: 3-methyl-morphinone.

Codeinone can be also described as the ketone of codeine: codeine-6-one.

Apoptotic activity
Through renewed interest into possible anti-tumor activities of some of the opium alkaloids and derivatives, unrelated to their antinociceptive properties and habit-forming effects, the oxidation product of codeine has been found to induce cell death in three different human cancer cell lines in vitro.