Table 1. Optimization of Reaction Conditions^a.

entry	cat. (mol %)	T (°C)	base (equiv)	t (h)	conversion (%)b
1	1a (0.5)	140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	>99
2	1b (0.5)	140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	73
3	1c (0.5)	140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	47
4	1d (0.5)	140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	51
5	1a (0.3)	140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	85
6	1a (0.5)	120	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	64
7	1a (0.5)	140	K2CO3 (0.50)	12	77
8	1a (0.5)	140	Na2CO3 (0.50)	12	70
9c	1a (0.5)	140	Et3N (1.00)	12	n.r.
10c	1a (0.5)	140		12	n.r.
11c		140	Cs2CO3 (0.50)	12	n.r.

^aReaction conditions: 2a (1 mmol), base, MeOH (1 mL), Ru catalyst 0.5 mol %, Ar.

^bConversion was determined by GC using xylene as the internal standard.

^cn.r., no reaction.