A novel PdNPs/SBA-NH2-LA catalyst has been prepared by a post-synthetic grafting approach via successive anchoring of propylamine (SBA-NH2) and lipoic acid (SBA-NH2-LA) functional groups followed by palladium nanoparticles immobilization. The Physico-chemical properties of the catalyst were extensively investigated by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, XPS, FT-IR, and TEM analysis. The PdNPs/SBA-NH2-LA catalyst is found to be highly selective for the hydrogenation of C–C double bonds of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Excellent conversion (95–99 %) and selectivity (>99 %) with high turn over frequency (330−1065 h−1) achieved at room temperature under atmospheric hydrogen pressure within 30−90 min of reaction time. This kind of high activity is expected from its structural and textural integrity of the catalyst. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.