A study on the efficient use of hydrogen was made over Cu-MgO-Al2O3 (hydrotalcite like precursor) catalyst prepared via co-precipitation method for the simultaneous synthesis of cyclohexanone and aniline by the coupling of cyclohexanol dehydrogenation and nitrobenzene hydrogenation in vapour phase. Presence of easily reducible CuO species as observed from TPR and higher Cu dispersion with smaller particle size indicated by chemisorption studies in the catalyst are the factors responsible for its enhanced activity.