As traightforward,h ighly chemoselective hydrogenation of a,b-unsaturated aldehydes was developed using unsupported nanoporous gold (AuNPore) as ah eterogeneous catalyst with bio-renewable formic acid (HCO 2 H) as hydrogen source.V arious a,b-unsaturateda ldehydes were re-duced to their corresponding allylic alcohols in good to high chemicaly ields with excellent selectivity.A uNPore offers several attractive features as ac atalyst, such as high activity and selectivity,easy recyclability,a nd no leaching.