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Bimetallic Co-Ni catalysts in the composition range Co(1−x)Nix with x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0, with total metal loading of 15% w/w and supported on TiO2-P25, have been prepared by chemical reduction of the metal acetates by glucose in aqueous alkaline medium and characterized by XRD, TEM, TPR, XPS and H2-TPD techniques. Selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldhyde (CAL) to hydrocinnamaldehyde (HCAL), cinnamyl alcohol (COL) and hydrocinnamyl alcohol (HCOL) has been investigated at 20 bar pressure, in the temperature range 120-140 °C. Co/Ni crystallite sizes in the range 6.0 ± 1 nm are observed by TEM. TPR and XPS results indicate the formation of nanoscale Co-Ni alloys, which tend to weaken M-H bond strength, as revealed by H2-TPD measurements. Ni/TiO2 displays very high conversion of CAL (86.9%) with high selectivity (78.7%) towards HCAL formation at 140 °C. Co/TiO2, on the other hand, exhibits relatively lower CAL conversion (55%) and higher selectivity (61.3%) for COL formation at the same temperature. However, bi-metallic Co-Ni catalysts in the composition range x = 0.3-0.6 display very high conversion (> 98%) due to alloy formation and weakening of M-H bonds. Bimetallic Co0.7Ni0.3 catalyst displays high conversion of CAL (98.1%) and high selectivity (82.9%) towards HCOL. Overall CAL hydrogenation activity at 140 °C, when expressed as TOF, displays a maximum value at the composition Co0.5Ni0.5. Activity and selectivity patterns have been rationalized based on the reaction pathways observed on the catalysts and the influence of Co-Ni alloy formation and M-H bond strength. Thus, a synergetic effect, originating from an appropriate composition of base metal catalysts and reaction conditions, could result in hydrogenation activity comparable with noble metal based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]