A process for hydrogenating aromatic compounds to produce hydrogenated cyclic compound by contacting an aromatic compound with hydrogen under conditions of pressure and temperature to react the hydrogen and aromatic compound in the presence of a catalyst comprising from 4 to 14 wt. % Ni and 0.0 up to about 0.9 wt. % Cu deposited on a transition alumina support having BET surface area of from about 40 to 180 m2/g, and pore volume of from about 0.3 to about 0.8 cc/g, preferably in the presence of a solvent boiling at least 10.degree. F. higher than the aromatic compound and the hydrogenated cyclic compound, such as the hydrogenation of benzene to produce cyclohexane.