The optical resolution of (?-5'-methoxylaudanosine with (-)-dibenzoyltartaric acid in methanol gives (R)-(-)-5'-methoxylaudanosine (I), which is condensed with 3-chloropropanol (II) by means of NaI and Na2CO3 in refluxing butanone yielding the quinolinium chloride derivative (III). Finally, this compound is esterified with 4(E)-octenedioyl chloride (IV) in hot 1,2-dichloroethane.