Well-characterized, ruthenium nanoparticle-intercalated montmorillonite clay was used as a catalyst in solvent-free alkene hydrogenation reactions and the corresponding products were obtained in good yields. The catalytic activity of ruthenium nanoparticle-intercalated montmorillonite clay was successfully tested with 16 different functionalized and non-functionalized alkenes. Apart from alkene reduction, the ruthenium nanoparticle-intercalated montmorillonite clay was also tested in Wittig-type reactions for obtaining dehydrobrittonin A, an important intermediate for the synthesis of brittonin A. Ruthenium nanoparticle-intercalated montmorillonite clay was found to be active in the synthesis of dehydrobrittonin A and brittonin A. The ability to recycle the catalyst nine times, together with low catalyst loading, high catalytic activity and catalytic selectivity were noteworthy advantages of the proposed protocol.