Metallic ruthenium nanoparticles intercalated in hectorite (particle size similar to 7 nm) were found to catalyze the specific hydrogenation (conversion 100%, selectivity > 99.9%) of the carbon-carbon double bond in alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones such as 3-buten-2-one, 3-penten-2-one, 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one. The catalytic turnovers range from 765 to 91,800, the reaction conditions being very mild (temperature 35 degrees C and constant hydrogen pressure 1-10 bar). After a catalytic run, the catalyst can be recycled and reused without loss of activity and selectivity (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.