8-Hydroxyquinaldine (I) reacts with KOH in refluxing toluene. Treatment with CO2 and acidification with HCl then affords carboxylic acid (II). Condensation of 8-hydroxy-7-quinaldic acid (II) with 3,4-diacetoxybenzaldehyde (III) in refluxing acetic anhydride (Ac2O) followed by treatment with a refluxing mixture of pyridine/H2O affords the desired product.