Catalysts consisting of Pd nanoparticles supported on highly dispersed TiOx-Al2O3, TaOx-Al2O3, and MoOx-Al2O3 are studied for catalytic quinoline hydrogenation and selective C-N bond cleavage at 275 A degrees C and 20 bar H-2. The Pd/MOx-Al2O3 materials exhibit significantly greater aromatic product selectivity and thus 10-15 % less required H-2 for a given level of denitrogenation relative to an unmodified Pd/Al2O3 catalyst.