The synthesis of 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5-carboxylic acid (2) and several derivatives of 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5-carboxylic acid (1; a-c) from 5-hydroxy-l0,ll-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene-5-carboxylic acid and derivatives thereof (3; a-c) is described.The p-toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed elimination of water (at 110.6" in toluene) from the deuterated hydroxy ester (3b; C-10, 11 d2) resulted in the incorporation of deuterium at C-5 of the olefinic ester l b with a KH/KD of 2.76. The large magnitude of this isotope effect indicated that the reaction proceeded via a rate-determining transannular 1,Shydride transfer from one of the benzylic positions of 36 t o the carbonium ion generated alpha to the methoxy-carbonyl group.