The selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde has been studied using palladium catalysts based on epoxy resin cured with ionic liquids. Characterization of palladium catalysts has involved the following methods: IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), AAS spectroscopy and time-of-fl ight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The investigated catalysts showed high stability and good recycling effi ciency what makes them useful for a prolonged use. The factors infl uencing the selectivity of the supported catalysts were discussed.