Condensation of 4-hydroxyphenylethanol (I) with 2-(chloromethyl)quinoline (II) in ethanolic KOH provided ether (III). The free hydroxyl group of (III) was then converted to the corresponding mesylate (IV) by treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride and Et3N. Alkylation of 11-(4-piperidinylidene)-6,11-dihydro-5H-imidazo[2,1-b][3]benzazepine-3-methanol (V) with mesylate (IV) in the presence of NaHCO3 gave adduct (VI). The primary alcohol of (VI) was oxidized to aldehyde (VII) using MnO2 in CH2Cl2. Finally, aldehyde (VII) was further oxidized to the title methyl ester by means of MnO2 in the presence of sodium cyanate in HOAc-MeOH.