A supported catalyst for hydrogenating nitro groups of halonitro compounds
manufactured from a support, a solvent, and one or more types of
organometallic complexes. The organometallic complexes have the formula:
##STR00001## wherein, R.sub.1-R.sub.6 are independently an R, OR,
OC(.dbd.O)R, halogen, or combination thereof, where R stands for an alkyl
or aryl group; Y.sub.1-Y.sub.4 are independently an O, S, N, or P atom;
and M is a metal atom. The supported catalysts show much higher
selectivity and activity when used to hydrogenate nitro groups on
halonitro aromatic compounds than catalyst currently being used for such
hydrogenation.