A Pt/HL model catalyst has been obtained by chemical vapor deposition of platinum hexafluoracetylacetonate and structurally characterized by EXAFS, In the conversion of methylcyclopentane at 350 degrees C, the selectivity is consistent with the typical bifunctional nature of the active sites. EXAFS results show that agglomeration of metal particles is greatly inhibited under catalytic conditions, i,e,, it is not responsible for the observed catalyst deactivation, Temperature-programmed oxidation profiles, in agreement with EXAFS results obtained from the used catalyst, indicate that carbon deposits are preferentially located on the protonic acidic sites of the HL structure.