Catalyst for the preparation of cyclohexanone from phenol and process therefor

In a process for the preparation of cyclohexanone by the selective hydrogenation of phenol in the vapor phase, the improvement which comprises carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of a palladium catalyst on an aluminum spinel carrier obtained by annealing alumina with compounds of monovalent or divalent spinel forming metals followed by impregnation of the thus formed spinel carrier with a palladium salt which is subsequently reduced to the metal, said catalyst containing 0.1 to 10% by weight palladium.