Directing the selectivity towards one particular product in a series of consecutive reactions is challenging. Solid catalysts with an ionic liquid layer (SCILL) can be a tool to get a high selectivity of a desired intermediate. For the hydrogenation of butadiene, SCILL catalysts with palladium as active metal yield butene selectivities of up to 99 % even for full conversion of butadiene. Experimental results are presented which corroborate that the SCILL effect is mainly explained by competitive adsorption.