Bimetallic platinum-tin and platinum-gallium catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers (CNF) were prepared via reductive deposition precipitation and impregnation. Detailed EXAFS, TEM-EDX and XPS studies showed that reductive deposition precipitation resulted in a close contact of tin with platinum. These bimetallic catalysts displayed an improved selectivity for cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation towards the desired cinnamyl alcohol as compared to the monometallic platinum catalyst and a bimetallic catalyst prepared by impregnation in which such a close interaction was absent. The general applicability of reductive deposition precipitation as synthesis technique was demonstrated using tin and gallium as promoters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.