N-substituted-6,8-dioxamorphinans have been found to possess potent narcotic agonist and/or antagonist activity. For example, the compound 17-cyclopropylmethyl-7,7-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-6,8-dioxamorphinan has been found to possess potent agonist-antagonist activity. These compounds are prepared by total synthesis and are not derived from opium alkaloids.