Catalytic supports with controlled pore properties

A catalyst support comprising (A) (I) a Group IIA metal oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide, (II) a combination of two or more Group IIA metal oxides selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide or (III) a combination of magnesium oxide with at least one Group IIA metal oxide selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide;

• (B) alumina and (C) aluminum phosphate matrix, characterized after calcination at 500.degree. C. for about 10 hours as amorphous, and 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, a pore volume of from about 0.3 cc/g to about 1.5 cc/g and wherein component (A) is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 75 mole percent, component (B) is present in an amount ranging from about two to about 90 mole percent and component (C) is present in an amount ranging from about three to about 95 mole percent.