A multiphase catalytic system consisting of hydrocarbon solvent and aqueous phase, phase-transfer (PT) agent (Aliquat 336), and supported Pt or Pd catalyst, bubbled with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure, affords the rapid and efficient hydrodechlorination and the selective reduction of the functional groups of p-chloroacetophenone and acetophenone at 50 degreesC and in moderate reaction times. The reaction gives quantitative yields of reduction products with variable selectivity, which can be controlled by varying some simple reaction conditions. Herein both halogen removal and carbonyl group or phenyl ring reductions are discussed. The composition of the aqueous phase, the nature of supported catalysts, the effect of various inorganic anions, and other reaction conditions have been studied kinetically to estimate the mechanistic aspects of the reaction selectivity. Emphasis is placed on the development of a novel synthetic tool, which allows control over the selectivity in the reduction of the carbonyl group and the phenyl ring. A number of kinetic models and the corresponding integral rate expressions were used, coupled with the "simultaneous nonlinear least-squares fitting" method, to estimate the rate constants for the formation of each particular reaction component. The kinetic monitoring allowed the accurate analysis of the reaction selectivity. Some mechanistic conclusions were drawn for the reaction under study that suggest that "softer" reduction conditions are attained in the presence of a PT agent and the aqueous phase. (C) 2000 Academic Press.