Silica-supported palladium complexes of the bipolymers chitosan-polyacrylic acid and chitosan-polymethachrylic acid were shown to have a higher activity in the proper molar ratio of monomeric units of chitosan to polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline or acrylic acid to propionic acid at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. Such palladium complexes of bipolymers are very active, selective and stable in the hydrogenation. In the hydrogenation of acrylic acid to propionic acid, the turnover numbers were > 14000 in 4-6 h, and no by-products were observed.