The influence of the support, the metal precursor, and the solvent on the selective hydrogenation of paracetamol (4-acetamidophenol) was studied over supported ruthenium catalysts. The catalysts supported on the oxidic supports Al2O3 and SiO2 gave the best results in terms of activity, selectivity for the acetamidocyclohexanols (99%), and stercoselectivity for the trans isomer (53 and 46%, respectively). Carbon-supported catalysts produced larger amounts of secondary compounds, mainly N-cyclohexylacetamide, which was derived from the hydrogenolysis reaction of the OH group. The use of a chloride precursor resulted in the enhancement of the formation of N-cyclohexylacetamide and partially hydrogenated products; the stereoselectivity also increased. Moreover, because of the acidity caused by residual Cl, condensation led to oligomers of paracetamol. In spite of the decrease in the selectivity for cyclohexanol derivatives when the more polar solvent ethanol was used instead of isopropanol or tetrahydrofuran the stereoselectivity for the trans isomer increased from 30 to 38%. The results confirm that the factors studied affect the mode of adsorption of the molecule of paracetamol on the catalyst in different ways. These effects determine the product distribution and the selectivity of the reaction. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.