Nickel nanoparticles, readily prepared by reduction of nickel(II) chloride with lithium and a catalytic amount of DTBB, have been used in the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds and have been fully characterised by different means. The reaction rate of the transfer hydrogenation was found to be dependent on the acetophenone and isopropanol concentration but independent on the amount of lithium chloride. The deactivation of the catalyst after reuse has been mainly attributed to surface oxidation but not to coke formation. All the experiments performed are in agreement with the process being of heterogeneous nature. The nickel nanoparticles unveiled a superior behaviour in comparison with commercially available nickel catalysts. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.