The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of acetophenone was evaluated in liquid phase and gas phase over monometallic Pt/SiO ₂ , Co/SiO ₂ and bimetallic Pt–Co/SiO ₂ catalysts. The influence of reaction time and loading of the catalyst were analysed by following the conversion and products selectivity. Phenylethanol, cyclohexylethanone and cyclohexylethanol are the main products of reaction using the Pt/SiO ₂ catalyst. By contrast, ethylbenzene and phenylethanol are the only products formed on the Co/SiO ₂ and Pt–Co/SiO ₂ catalysts. The bimetallic catalyst is more stable as a function of time and more active towards the HDO process than the monometallic systems. The presence of an organic solvent showed only minor changes in product yields with no effect on the product speciation. Periodic density functional theory analysis indicates a stronger interaction between the carbonyl group of acetophenone with Co than with Pt sites of the mono and bimetallic systems, indicating a key activity of oxophilic sites towards improved selectivity to deoxygenated products. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 2)’.