A simple route to a highly active and selective Pd/C heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst has been developed. The 1.5 nm Pd(0) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized at room temperature from the reduction of palladium acetate in methanol under anhydrous conditions. A powdered carbon support was added during the synthesis and dried to produce an active catalyst that did not require any additional treatment. This technique alleviates many of the difficulties reported in using colloidal NPs, such as residues left from the removal of capping agents or agglomeration during ligand removal. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.