Water-soluble derivatives of 1 -tetrahydrocannabinol.

ABSTRACT

Delta1-Tetrahydrocannabinol, which is resinous and insoluble in water and therefore difficult to study pharmacologically, can be converted to a watersoluble derivative without loss of its biological activity. This has been achieved by preparing esters bearing a nitrogen moiety with the use of carbodiimide as the condensing agent. The availability of such water-soluble derivatives will allow the evaluation of Delta1-tetrahydrocannabinol in self-administration studies in monkeys for its addiction liability potential in man. This technique of water solubilization is also applicable to other compounds of chemical and biological significance.