Abstract: A catalyst for the liquid phase hydrogenation of acetophenone to phenyl methyl carbinol having improved physical strength and superior selectivity to the desired product having a composition expressed as oxides consisting essentially of: (a) a barium-copper chromate containing 30-55 wt % CuO, 30-57 wt % Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and up to 16 wt % BaO; and (b) 1-13 wt % ZnO relative to 100% by weight of said barium-copper chromite. In a preferred embodiment 0.15-1.7 wt % MgO relative to 100% by weight of said barium-copper chromite is included. The zinc compound may be added by solution impregnation of the barium-copper chromite or as a powder. Preferably, the catalyst is prepared by combining into a wet paste a barium-promoted copper chromite and a zinc compound and preferably also magnesium chromate, followed by drying the paste and then calcining the dried mixture. After calcination, the catalyst typically is pelletized for use in a fixed bed reactor.