With the objective of finding a more effective morphine drug, several new alkyl derivatives of dihydrodesoxyniorpliine (111) have been prepared. Attempts to introduce an alkyl group into ring C by reaction of p-toluenesulfonylcodeine (VII) with alkyl lithiums led only to oxide-ring opening and the formation of A6J-thebainone enol p-toluenesulfonate (VIII). On the other hand, the action of triphenylphosphinemethylene on dihydrocodeinone (I) gave an ...