I need to build a negative voltage reference (commom VCC not GND) using a LM741, a zener and some resistors. Can you help me? Please take a look at the attached drawing it speaks for yourself. VCC=18Vdc~25Vdc. It will be used as a voltage reference in a negative rail regulated power supply so the positive rail goes from the smoothing capacitor to the output without regulation.
So you need two different supply (with separate ground isolation). Yes you can give 5V supply in reverse polarity (Vcc grounded) to get the negative reference. I don't know the application of this circuit , but you can use some IC Chips like ICL7660