Polysiloxane microspheres containing a large number of silanol groups were obtained by an emulsion process of modified polyhydromethylsiloxane. N‐substituted imidazole groups were grafted on these microspheres by the silylation of their silanol groups with N‐[γ‐(dimethylchlorosilyl)propyl]imidazole hydrochloride. The progress of the reaction was monitored using 29Si and 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and its impact on microsphere morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The usefulness of the imidazole‐functionalized microspheres as a support for a metal catalyst was demonstrated by their reaction with PdCl2(PhCN)2. In this way a new heterogenized catalyst, Pd(II) complex with imidazole ligands supported on polysiloxane microspheres, was generated. This catalyst, MPd, was characterized using 13C and 29Si MAS NMR, X‐ray photoelectron, Fourier transform infrared and far‐infrared spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction, SEM–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. The catalyst appears in two structures, as Pd(II) complex and Pd(0) nanoclusters. Its catalytic activity was tested using a model reaction, the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde, and compared with that of an analogous complex operating in a homogeneous system. MPd showed a high activity in the promotion of hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The activity in the substrate conversion was stable at least in five cycles of this reaction. The main product was hydrocinnamaldehyde which could be obtained with a yield above 70%. A mechanism of the reaction is proposed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.