HELMUT SCHMIDHAMMER and ARNOLD BROSSI. Can. J. Chem. 60, 3055 (1982).Bischler-Napieralski cyclization of the known phenylacetamide 1, followed by selective ether cleavage of the 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline 2 and sodium borohydride reduction, afforded the tetrahydroisoquinoline 4. Optical resolution of 4 with tartaricacid gave the optical isomers 4a, b , which were converted into the 6-ketomorphinans 9 0 , b and their 0-methyl ethers 100, b by the following reaction sequence: Birch reduction, N-formylation of the dihydro bases, Grewe cyclization, removal of the N-formyl protecting groups, reductive N-methylation, and 0-methylation. The 2-deoxy congeners 1241, b were obtained from 9 a , b by phenyltetrazolylation, and catalytic removal of the heterocyclic ether function. The (-)-enantiomer 1% obtained by this synthesis was identical with material prepared from natural morphine, and exhibited the high antinociceptive potency already reported.HELMUT SCHMIDHAMMER et ARNOLD BROSSI. Can. J. Chem. 60,3055 (1982). La reaction de cyclisation de Bischler-Napieralski de la phenylacetamide 1 suivie du clivage selectif de 1'Cther de la dihydro-3,4 isoquinolCine 2 et de la reduction par le borohydrure de sodium, conduit la tCtrahydroisoquinoleine 4. La rCsolution optique du compose 4 avec I'acide tartrique permet d'obtenir les isomeres optiques 4a ,b que I'on transforme en cCto-6 morphinans 9a,b et en leurs ethers 0-methyliques 10a,b selon les reactions suivantes: la rCduction de Birch, la N-formylation des bases dihydro, la cyclisation de Grewe, le clivage des groupes protecteurs N-formyle, la N-mithylation reductive et 1'0-methylation. On obtient les