Catalytic supports with controlled pore properties

A catalyst composed of a support containing (1) one or more of a Group IIA metal compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium compounds, (2) alumina and (3) aluminum phosphate carrying at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, vanadium, copper, chromium, iron, cobalt, molybdenum and tungsten thereon, said support having an average pore radius of from about 10 A, to about 300 A, a surface area ranging from about 100 m.sup.2 /g to about 350 m.sup.2 /g and a pore volume of from about 0.3 cc/g to about 1.5 cc/g, said Group IIA metal compound being present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 75 mole percent, alumina in an amount ranging from about two to about 90 mole percent and aluminum phosphate in an amount ranging from about three to about 95 mole percent, said metal being present in the range of about five to about 60 weight percent.