Dendrimer-metal-nanocomposites (DMNs) were used as precursors to prepare SiO2 supported monometallic Pt, Cu and bimetallic Pt-Cu catalysts with Pt/Cu atomic ratios of 1:1 (Pt50Cu50) and 1:3 (Pt25Cu75). After impregnation of these DMNs onto the support, the catalysts were thermally treated and activated following an optimized protocol. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) shows that the metal nanoparticles in dendrimer-derived SiO2-supported catalysts are smaller and have a more narrow size distribution than those in conventional catalysts prepared using corresponding metal salts via the wet impregnation method. Slow deactivation was observed for hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane over monometallic Cu catalysts, which showed an activity about one to two orders of magnitude lower than that of the Pt-containing catalysts. Hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane over Pt and Pt50Cu50 catalysts mainly produces ethane and the selectivity towards ethane increases with temperature. For Pt25Cu75 catalyst, the selectivity towards ethane decreases in favor of ethylene. The overall activity decreases with increasing Cu loading in the catalysts. Activity based on surface Pt sites suggests the formation of bi-functional surfaces in Pt25Cu75 catalyst favoring C-Cl bond scission on Cu sites and hydrogenation of intermediate .CH2CH2. on Pt sites. Furthermore, kinetic analyses suggest different reaction mechanisms for hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane over Pt and Cu-enriched surfaces in the Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts.