Hydrogenation properties of p-chloronitrobenzene (CNB) have been studied over alumina, zirconium dioxide and titania prepared by different ways supported platinum catalysts in ethanol at 303 K and atmospheric pressure. Pt/TiO2 catalyst exhibits good catalytic activity and selectivity of p-chloroaniline (CAN). The conversion of p-CNB is over 99% and p-CAN is main product on the hydrogenation of p-CNB over TiO2-supported platinum catalysts. PtM/TiO2 catalysts (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) have also been investigated for the hydrogenation of p-CNB to p-CAN. A significant influence on the catalytic properties is showed with introduction of transition metals to Pt/TiO2 catalyst. Both catalytic activity and selectivity of p-CAN are all improved. Among all the catalysts, PtFe/TiO2 catalyst shows the best catalytic activity (TOF, 1.39 s(-1)) and the highest yield of p-CAN (98.0 mol%) on the hydrogenation of p-CNB. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.