The enantioselective hydrogenation of alpha-methylcinnamic acid (MCA) over cinchonidine modified 5 wt% Pd/Al2O3 was studied in a liquid batch reactor. Both the reaction activity and enantioselectivity towards the (R) product are strongly solvent dependent. The reaction is zero order in hydrogen pressure and first order in MCA. The presence of cinchonidine does not affect the reaction order with respect to either acid or H-2 pressure, but has a significant inhibiting effect on the reaction rate. The catalyst exhibits stable activity during the reaction with no sign of deactivation.