A new method has been used to prepare highly dispersed Pt/SiO2 catalysts. The method is based on the use of metal alcoxides together with the appropriate metal precursor. In particular, H2PtCl6.6H2O and tetraethoxysilane were used to prepare supported Pt/SiO2 catalysts with a BET surface area in excess of 1000 m2/g. Catalysts prepared by this method were observed to resist deactivation by sintering and coke formation and were observed to have a high selectivity in the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene.