Selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol over a sol-gel 5% Ru-5% Sn/SiO2 catalyst has been studied in a stirred batch reactor (373-483 K, 25-70 bar). Experiments provided information about the influence of temperature and pressure on the catalytic performance. The catalyst deactivation in different solvents during repeated experiments has been studied, too. Kinetic modeling based on several reaction mechanisms allowing discrimination between rival models was carried out.