The manuscript herein is on the synthesis and characterization of a graphene composite abbreviated as GO-IL-Ru that is based on graphite oxide with additional functional groups of organic ionic trains. It contains Ru at 1.61 wt% level (by ICP-OES). We have used GO-IL-Ru as catalyst in both the hydrogenation reactions and the transfer hydrogenation reactions. The catalytic activity of GO-IL-Ru was good at compounds with phenyl groups, but not at those containing electronegative substituents or heterocyclic rings. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.