The invention relates to a high-selectivity catalyst for preparing
phthalide by hydrogenation of
phthalic anhydride, which is a supported monometallic and bimetallic catalyst prepared by taking a
hydrotalcite or
hydrotalcite-like material as a precursor as well as preparation and application thereof. The composition of the catalyst is MM' / S, wherein the supported amount of
metal M (Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Mo and W) is 5-70%, the supported amount of
metal M' (Au, La and Mg) is not higher than 30%, and S is an
oxide of Al, Zn, Nb, Fe, Zr, Cr and Ti. The catalyst disclosed by the invention is applicable to kettle-type (intermittent or continuous) stirring reaction and is also applicable to continuous fixed-
bed hydrogenation reaction, the selected
solvent is gamma-butyrolactone, the activity for
phthalic anhydride hydrogenation is high, the selectivity of
phthalide is high, the
phthalic anhydride conversion ratio can reach 99%, and the
phthalide selectivity can reach 98%. The catalyst has
high activity,
high selectivity and high stability, raw materials are easily obtained, and the process is simple, so that the catalyst has a good industrial prospect.