METHOD FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE CONVERSION OF CBD TO DELTA-8 THC
A cannabis conversion method includes providing a starting material that includes cannabidiol (CBD), combining the starting material with a solvent and a Lewis acid to form a mixture, the solvent and the Lewis acid reacting with the CBD to form a product Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mixture, and removing the solvent and the Lewis acid from the mixture, the removing leaving the product Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol.
1 . A cannabis conversion method comprising:
providing a starting material that includes cannabidiol (CBD);
combining the starting material with a solvent and a Lewis acid to form a mixture, the solvent and the Lewis acid reacting with the CBD to form a product Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mixture; and
removing the solvent and the Lewis acid from the mixture, the removing leaving the product Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, isooctane, tolulene, benzene, and combinations thereof.
3 . The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the Lewis acid is selected from the group consisting of perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, alkylsulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid, arylsulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane, and combinations thereof.
5 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the Lewis acid is selected from the group consisting of perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, alkylsulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid, arylsulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a nitrated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of nitromethane, nitroethane, and combinations thereof.
7 . The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the Lewis acid is selected from the group consisting of perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, alkylsulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid, arylsulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, isooctane, tolulene, benzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane, nitromethane, nitroethane, and combinations thereof.
9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the Lewis acid is selected from the group consisting of perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, alkylsulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid, arylsulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the Lewis acid includes methane sulfonic acid.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the removing includes removing the Lewis acid by filtration.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the removing includes removing the Lewis acid by quenching with a basic pH solution.
13 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the removing includes removing the solvent by evaporation.
14 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the solvent in milliliters to the Lewis acid in milligrams is from 0.05 to 0.5.
15 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol is of at least 80% purity by weight with regard to total weight of CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol.
16 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixture is agitated for 0.1 hours to 24 hours.