A catalyst suitable for the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of
hydrocarbons comprises at least one first metal and at least one second
metal bound to a support material. The at least one first metal comprises
at least one transition metal, suitably a platinum group metal. The
support material is provided with an overlayer such that acidic sites on
the support material are substantially blocked. In a preferred embodiment
the catalyst is also substantially chloride free. Method of preparing
catalyst are also disclosed.