Controlled stepwise surface reactions were studied to prepare supported ruthenium-bipyridine catalysts. Ru3(CO)12 and 2,2’-bipyridine were introduced onto the support from the gas phase in a fluidized bed reactor. With this method the introduction of the precursors can be carried out independently by successive pulses. The possibilities to control metal content, properties of the surface species, and dispersion were studied by varying the deposition conditions, e. g., temperature and carrier gas. The catalysts were tested in 1-hexene hydroformylation and the water-gas shift reaction. Deposition of the precursors from the gas phase was found to produce active catalysts for both reactions. In the water-gas shift reaction the highest activities were 2-2.5 times greater than those obtained with catalysts prepared by impregnation.