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Nornicotine is an alkaloid found in various plants including Nicotiana, the tobacco plant. It is chemically similar to nicotine, but does not contain a methyl group.
It is a precursor to the carcinogen N-nitrosonornicotine that is produced during the curing and processing of tobacco.
Synthesis
For the synthesis of nornicotine several paths can be taken. This includes the demethylation of nicotine. The removal of the methyl group can be accomplished for example by reaction with silver oxide.
The reduction of 3-myosmine for example with molecular hydrogen on palladium-carbon catalyst or with sodium borohydride provides (±) -Nornicotin in moderate to good yields.
References
Nornicotine Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA