The synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of the optical antipodes of the title compound (+/-)-1 (CV 205-502) is presented. The dopaminomimetic activity is shown to reside entirely in the (-) enantiomer. Crystallographic analysis has proven that the absolute configuration of the active (-) enantiomer corresponds to that of its ergoline analogue 3 (CQ 32-084) and of apomorphine (5).