A ruthenium-grafted hydrotalcite (Ru/HT) and hydrotalcite-supported palladium nanoparticles (Pd(nano)/HT) are easily prepared by treating basic layered double hydroxide, hydrotalcite (HT, Mg(6)Al(2)(OH)(16)CO(3)) with aqueous RuCl(3)n H(2)O and K(2)[PdCl(4)] solutions, respectively, using surface impregnation methods. Analysis by means of X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray, electron paramagnetic resonance, and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies proves that a monomeric Ru(IV) species is grafted onto the surface of the HT. Meanwhile, after reduction of a surface-isolated Pd(II) species, highly dispersed Pd nanoclusters with a mean diameter of about 70 A is observed on the Pd(nano)/HT surface by transmission electron microscopy analysis. These hydrotalcite-supported metal catalysts can effectively promote alpha-alkylation reactions of various nitriles with primary alcohols or carbonyl compounds through tandem reactions consisting of metal-catalyzed oxidation and reduction, and an aldol reaction promoted by the base sites of the HT. In these catalytic alpha-alkylations, homogeneous bases are unnecessary and the only by-product is water. Additionally, these catalyst systems are applicable to one-pot syntheses of glutaronitrile derivatives.