5',8-Dimethoxylaudanosine (I) is condensed with 3-iodopropanol (II) in refluxing acetone and passed through Dowex 1-X8 ion exchange resin to give trans-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-5',8-dimethoxylaudanosinium chloride (III), which is then esterified with succinyl chloride (IV) in refluxing dichloroethane.