Volumen XLIV, Fasciculus VI (1961) (-) -1-(p-Chlorostyryl-2-acetyl-6,7-dimethoxy-l, 2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinoline (IX), which has the same configuration as the analgetic substance (-)-Ro 4-1778/1 (I), has been correlated with (+)-calycotomine (V) of known absolute configuration. Thus the absolute configuration of (-)-I as (R)-l-(p-chlorophenethyl)-2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-l,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinoline is proved. This result is supported by rotatory dispersion studies and by the rotation shifts in solvents of different polarity. The physicochemical data of optically pure (+)-calycotomine (V) do not correspond with those recorded for the optically active alkaloid as isolated by WHITE, which seems to be a mixture of (+)-calycotomine and its racemate.