Dihydroxylation of the benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridinone derivative (I) by means of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide in the presence of OsO4 leads to the cis-diol (II), which upon esterification with 4-pentenoyl chloride in pyridine furnishes a mixture of diester (III) and the title mono-pentenoate ester, which can be separated employing flash chromatography.