Highly mesoporous carbon supported Pd catalysts were prepared using sodium formate and hydrogen for the reduction of the catalyst precursors. These catalysts were tested in the enantioselective hydrogenation of isophorone and of 2-benzylidene-1-benzosuberone. The support and the catalysts were characterized by different methods such as nitrogen adsorption, hydrogen chemisorption, SEM, XPS, and TPD. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.