Ru Nanoparticles and Lipase on Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Reductive Esterification of Aldehydes

The integration of chemical and biological catalysts to conduct one-pot reactions is regarded as a powerful approach for enhancing the efficiency of chemical synthesis. Here, through a physical confinement strategy, lipase and Ru nanoparticles were immobilized within a metal–organic framework (MOF) to form a hybrid catalyst, CALB-Ru-UiO-66, which was then prepared for use in cascade reactions in organic solvents. Comprehensive characterization techniques were employed to elucidate the structural evolution, elemental distribution, and chemical states of the material. Initially, furfural was selected as the substrate for the reduction–esterification cascade reaction under mild conditions. This approach avoided the harsh requirements of conventional catalytic systems and suppressed undesired side reactions, such as furan ring opening. The catalytic efficiency of CALB-Ru-UiO-66 was 1.5 times higher than that of a physical mixture of Ru-UiO-66 and free CALB. Additionally, the catalyst demonstrated chiral resolution capability for secondary alcohols. The catalyst also exhibited remarkable stability, retaining over 80% of its initial activity after five consecutive reaction cycles and demonstrated efficient and sustained catalytic performance in a continuous-flow packed-bed reactor. This work provides a strategy for developing highly efficient and stable catalysts for biomass transformation, highlighting the potential of enzyme–metal hybrid systems in this field.