Anchoring Furan-Functionalized Al(III) Metal–Organic Framework with Ruthenium Nanoparticles for Highly Effective, Recyclable Tandem Catalytic Synthesis of Imines

Given the growing demand for sustainable and industrially viable processes, heterogeneous catalysis has become a cornerstone of contemporary chemistry, enabling efficient, selective, and reusable catalytic systems. We report the design, synthesis, and catalytic application of a furan-functionalized aluminum metal–organic framework (Al-MOF namely 1′ ), followed by impregnation of RuCl 3 · x H 2 O and in situ chemical reduction to produce Ru(0) nanoparticles ( 1′ @Ru NPs) for the selective aerobic oxidative conversion of benzyl alcohols and anilines into imines. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed the integrity of 1′ and the successful incorporation of Ru NPs onto the MOF surface. Catalytic testing under aerobic conditions showed that 1′ @Ru NPs efficiently catalyze the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, followed by condensation with aniline to afford the corresponding imine, with high conversion and selectivity in the complete absence of any radical initiator or external oxidant. The catalyst exhibited stable performance across multiple cycles with negligible Ru leaching, demonstrating the utility of furan functionalization for metal anchoring and stabilization. Mechanistic studies indicate a clean, Ru-mediated dehydrogenation pathway without the involvement of radical intermediates. This study establishes a recyclable heterogeneous platform for oxidative imine synthesis and highlights the importance of linker functionality for nanoparticle stabilization and catalytic performance.