Ru–MCM-41 catalysts were investigated in the diastereoselective hydrogenation of class F prostaglandin intermediates. The catalysts were prepared by deposition of Ru from different precursors (ruthenium acetylacetonate, ruthenium chloride or ruthenium hexaamine chloride). These catalysts were characterized using several techniques: atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma, N 2 adsorption–desorption curves at 77 K, H 2-chemisorption, temperature-programmed oxidation, temperature-programmed reduction, XPS, XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The measurements indicated that Ru is homogeneously distributed on the surface of MCM-41 and that using the hexamine chloride complex allows a better penetration of Ru inside the mesoporous tubes then the other two precursors. Hydrogenation of a prostaglandin F intermediate, namely the one with R=H and –R′=CH 2–O–C 6H 4 (m) Cl, showed that the catalysts prepared using ruthenium acetylacetonate and ruthenium chloride exhibit a higher selectivity to allylic alcohol than that prepared using ruthenium hexaamine chloride. In all the investigated catalysts the diastereomeric excess was in the (11 R,15 S) allyl alcohol and it varied in the same order as the chemoselectivity. A positive effect of pressure was found.