An approach to the total synthesis of novel opiate and Amaryllidaceae alkaloids is described. A rapid and efficient construction of the key intermediate [1.83], employing a palladium mediated cyclisation is presented. Studies towards the opiate ring skeleton utilising both nitrone and nitrile oxide [3+2] cycloadditions is investigated. Synthesis of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids ring structure is described, involving a novel sublimation cyclisation protocol. The total synthesis of N, O-dimethyl norsanguinine is presented.