Phenol, cresols, guaiacol and eugenol were studied to describe the effect of substituent position and type on the reactivity of these phenolic compounds. Conversion of cresols under deoxygenation/hydrogenation reactivities increased in order m->o->p-cresol over Pt/Beta zeolite with Si/Al = 12.7 and o->m-> p-cresol over the Pt/Beta with lower Al content (Si/Al = 20.7). Major products of cresols hydrogenation were methyl cyclohexanols. Phenol was converted into a mixture of cyclohexane, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. An increase in Si/Al ratio of the parent zeolite-based catalysts resulted in a decrease in the overall conversion of cresols and phenol. On the other hand, an increase in Si/Al ratio of catalysts prepared by dealumination led to accelerated conversion of phenol to cyclohexane. Using the lab-prepared mesoporous Beta catalyst with a comparable Si/Al ratio to the commercial one (ca.20), higher yields of cyclohexanol were obtained in conversion of phenol. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.