Hydrogenolysis of 1,1a,6,10b-tetrahydro-1,6-methanodibenzo[a,e]cyclopropa[c] cycloheptene (I) over Ru-beta and Ru-Y zeolites is reported. The catalysts were prepared via impregnation of commercial beta and Y zeolites using Ru(NH3)(6)Cl-3, RuCl3 or Ru(acac)(3), as precursors. The catalysts were characterized by chemical analysis, adsorption-desorption isotherms of N-2 at 77 K, hydrogen chemisorption and temperature programmed oxidation (TPO). Hydrogenolysis of (I) was carried out in methanol or 2-propanol, as solvent, at temperatures in the range 60-100degreesC. The reaction was mainly influenced by the type of zeolite and solvent. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.