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Would anyone be interested in me posting a write up, or even a video, of how to do a semi-synthesis of THC from CBD? Its one of the more fun chemistry experiments IMO and can be done from home. Thankfully I'm in a location where it would be legal as well.

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@djsumdog Most people dont. But its actually fairly trivial and doable at standard pressure with relatively few chemicals and equipment.

I can even do some chromatography to prove and demonstrate the conversion takes place. TLC can be done at home as well.

@freemo
That is pretty neat, and CBD oil can be found more easily, less criminalized than the other one. AS a home based possible experiment, I am all for it.

Education is important. πŸ‘

@djsumdog

@design_RG

CBD oil is usually CBD dissolved in an edible oil like grapeseed oil. As such it wont be a good candidate since you cant easily seperate it from the food grade oil.

I would do the experiment with pure CBD (usually called CBD isolate, its a powder). Anyone wanting to do it at home would need either CBD isolate or a raw plant extract not dissolved in anything (or dissolved in hexane)

while its a relatively simple experiment that can be done at home you'd need a minimal investment in some lab glassware and a lab grade hot plate for it to be safe however. It involves boiling hexane which is basically whats in gasoline so it is an explosion hazard if you dont have the right heating element and ventilation.

People at home are likely to extract from raw plant matter using hexane extraction or butane extraction. In that case they would have a mixture of THC and CBD and would be converting the mixture into pure THC. There is no issue with applying the process to THC which will be uneffected. The other components in a plant extraction would likely just break down during the process.

@djsumdog

@freemo

I think this is quite interesting. Hemp cultivation is much less restrict, and an easier to get source material in many harder jurisdictions.

@djsumdog

@design_RG

high CBD low THC hemp plant should be a fine source in theory. If I could get some I could start from plant material and show how to extract it and clean it up a bit to make it work well with the process.

If you start with plant material I'd likely do a hexane extraction then run it through some silica gel and activated carbon to clarify it slightly before using the same process I would use to do the conversion.

@djsumdog

@freemo
Maybe you could start with the simpler process, the one you referred to in the OP above.

Assuming that people can get the dry powdered CBD extract. Is it sold openly ?
@djsumdog

@design_RG

You can buy it on amazon. The process from the plant can be a seperate video since once you get to the point you have extract and clean it you can use it the same as the isolate (even though it will be more like a syrup).

@djsumdog

@freemo I would surely enjoy that, even though I don't smoke or even like THC. Plant chemistry is fun

@arteteco it would be process more than on-paper chemistry (which is simple as its a one-bond change, basically just protonation)

But yea i can share it, the process is simple but fun, basically a reflux, some acid, neutralization, then cleaning and distilling off the hexane.

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