Platinum catalyst was prepared by immobilizing the metal precursor on polyamide support containing a pyridine moiety, -[-CO-C5H3N-CONH(CH2)(6)NH-]-(n), PA-py, and by reducing it with sodium borohydride solution at room temperature. The activity and selectivity of the catalyst were examined for liquid phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde (CAL) under 40 bar hydrogen pressure at 75 degreesC. Tin chloride was added to improve the reaction selectivity towards formation of unsaturated alcohol (UOL). The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The repeated use of the Pt-Sn catalysts showed the increase of activity and selectivity of the catalyst. The maximum yield of crotyl alcohol achieved in the hydrogenation of CAL was about 55.1 %, which was equivalent to 834 catalytic cycles per Pt atom. The effect of the polymer support on the reaction selectivity has been discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.