The vapor phase hydrogenation of acetophenone at atmospheric pressure is carried out for the synthesis of I-phenylethanol in a fixed bed reactor using Cu-Zn-Al-O (LTS-1) and LTS-2, Zn-Cr-Al-O (HTS-1) and Zn-Cu-Cr-Al-O (HTS-2) metal oxide catalysts. Our studies clearly indicate that a catalyst of low temperature hydrogenation activity, when modified for its acidity with magnesium oxide, shows maximum selectivity of I-phenylethanol.