We present a simple method to synthesize shape selective carbon catalysts for large alkene hydrogenation reactions by tailoring porosity of platinum embedded in polyfurfuryl alcohol derived carbons. A small amount of mesoporosity, in addition to the intrinsic microporous nature of the carbon, shortens the diffusion length for the reactant molecule, enabling these materials to be used for catalysis in the liquid phase. A systematic study of hydrogenation reactions of liquid phase alkenes is reported. The molecular sieving effect of the catalyst was examined by varying molecular length, size, double bond position, stereoregularity and the number of double bonds in the alkenes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.