Silica-supported PdZn catalysts have been studied in CO and CO2 hydrogenation and in ethylene hydroformylation. The dilution of surface Pd by Zn lowers the hydrogenating capability of the catalysts and favours the production of higher hydrocarbons in CO hydrogenation. The catalyst with a molar ratio Pd:Zn = 3 showed an enhanced ability to insert CO into an M-alkyl bond, this catalyst produced higher oxygenates in the CO hydrogenation and was the most active in all reactions studied.