A practical method for the conversion of tetrahydrothebaine to dihydromorphine in 92% yield is described.The procedure should allow more efficient production ofopium products and may be easily modified for large-scalesynthesis. The conversion of codeine to (8S)-8-bromomorphide, a potentially valuable intermediate to 6-demethoxyoripavine and derivatives, is also described. The absoluteconfiguration of (8S)-8-bromomorphide was determined bya single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of the hydrobromidesalt.