The synthesis and resolution of 1, 1-bi-8-methylisoquinoline (±)-5 is reported. An optically active palladium complex with high chiral recognition was formed during the complexation between a chiral palladium complex and the two enantiomers of (±)-5. The free energy barrier ΔG≠ for interconversion of enantiomers was estimated to be 97, 2 KJ/mol at 40° C.