Abstract Treatment of 3-methyl-2-phenylcycloprop-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid with potassium tert-butoxide induced its isomerization into trans-2-methylidene-3-phenylcyclopropane-1- carboxylic acid which was converted into methyl ester, and heating of the latter for 1 h in toluene gave methyl (E)-2-(2-phenylcyclopropylidene) acetate. Thermal isomerization of methyl (E)-2-(2-phenylcyclopropylidene) acetate on prolonged heating in toluene afforded ...