The liquid phase hydrogenation of cis-2-butene-1,4-diol over a supported palladium catalyst has been investigated in ethanol at 0.01 less than or equal to PH2 less than or equal to 0.5 MPa and 273 less than or equal to T less than or equal to 303 K. The effect of substrate concentration, catalyst amount, agitation speed and H-2 pressure on the reaction rate has also been studied under isothermal conditions. Under reduced H-2 pressure, double bond isomerization reaction occurs to a high extent leading to 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran up to 60% yield. Formation of all reaction products was explained on the basis of a reaction model in which a surface sigma-alkyl derivative was postulated and the results were clarified on applying the steady-state approximation to this intermediate. Kinetic rate equations were derived following the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model by assuming a non-competitive adsorption of organic species and hydrogen on the palladium active sites. Rate constants and the adsorption constant for each reaction were determined by a non-linear regression analysis. An excellent agreement between the predicted concentrations versus time profiles and the experimental data was observed. Furthermore, the model predictions of hydrogenated and isomerized compounds formation at different pressures agree well with the experimental results obtained.