A La-doped Pd-B amorphous catalyst (Pd-La-B) was prepared by chemical reduction of mixed PdCl2 and LaCl3 With KBH4. The La-dopant played a key role in stabilizing the amorphous structure since only the crystalline Pd-B was obtained without the La-dopant. During liquid phase phenol hydrogenation, the as-prepared Pd-La-B exhibited higher activity and better selectivity to cyclohexanone than the undoped Pd-B.