Supported ruthenium nanoparticles on ordered mesoporous carbons using a cyclodextrin-assisted hard-template approach and their applications as hydrogenation catalysts

•Stable Ru@C replica using β-CD with different substitution patterns were prepared.•Cyclodextrins were used as carbon precursors and metal complexing agents.•HP-β-CD-assisted catalysts afforded higher dispersion and reducibility of Ru species.•Ru@MC-HP catalysts displayed much higher hydrogenation activities than controls.•Enhanced activities attributed to a good balance between Ru dispersion and H2 spillover.