Transition metal aerogel-supported catalyst

A process for preparing a supported catalyst comprising a transition metal selected from palladium, platinum, nickel, cobalt or copper on an aerogel support, which includes the steps of providing a mixture containing an alkoxide precursor of the aerogel, a chelate complex of the transition metal with a chelating agent having Si(OR)3 anchor groups, and an organic solvent in which the chelate complex is soluble; hydrolyzing the mixture by admixing it with water to form a gel; and converting the gel under supercritical conditions into the transition metal aerogel-supported catalyst. The supported catalyst has an especially homogeneous distribution of the metal component and is suitable, for example, for use as a hydrogenation catalyst.