Ruthenium containing hydrotalcite (Ru-Mg-Al) is Used as a solid base catalyst for >C=C< double bond isomerization of methyl chavicol, eugenol, safrole, allylbenzene, dimethoxy allylbenzene and 3-carene. The catalyst showed excellent conversion and selectivity for isomerization reaction in shorter reaction time (2 h). Catalytic activity and reusability of Ru-Mg-Al was compared with ruthenium impregnated catalysts such as, Ru-HT, Ru-MgO, Ru-CaO, Ru-SiO2 and Ru-alumina for isomerization of methyl chavicol to trans-anethole. Ru-Mg-Al catalyst was reused four times without loss in its activity, however, significant loss in the conversion of methyl chavicol and selectivity of trans-anethole was observed on reusability of other ruthenium impregnated catalysts. The conversion of methyl chavicol and selectivity of trans-anethole was found to increase on increasing the reaction temperature as well as amount of catalyst. At 0.005 g Catalyst amount. 55% conversion of methyl chavicol with 68% selectivity of trans-anethole was Observed that increased to 93% with 82% selectivity of trans-anethole at 0.05 g catalyst amount. On further increase in the amount of catalyst to 1 g, conversion increased to 98% with 88% selectivity of trans-anethole. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.