The outstanding antibacterial properties of the tetracycline antibiotics, coupled with their remarkable clinical effectiveness, have provided the stimulus for an intensive effort to find new members of the class with superior properties. The chemical mating of oxytetracycline (Ha) and chlortetracycline (IIb) has been recognized as a desirable, but elusive, goal. We wish to report the preparation of the desired 5-hydroxy-7 chlortetracycline (1Ic) and present some of its chemical and biological properties.