The chiral 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline intermediates in the Rice and Beyerman routes to morphine, (+)‐(R)‐1‐(3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzyl)‐6‐methoxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline (6) and (+)‐(R)‐1‐(3,5‐dibenzyloxy‐4‐methoxybenzyl)‐6‐methoxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline (5), were prepared in high ee by ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of the corresponding imine precursors (Noyori method). The yield of the key raw material in the Beyerman route, 3,5‐dibenzyloxy‐4‐methoxyphenylacetic acid (1), starting from gallic acid methyl ester (7) was improved by a factor of 5 over previously described syntheses. Key steps in the new procedure are the selective formation of methyl 3,5‐dihydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzoate (9) via the 3,5‐diacetate and an improved benzylation of the hydroxyl groups in 9.