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The synthesis of benzaldehyde, a compound widely utilized in food, medicine, and cosmetics, was achieved through a one-step catalytic hydrogenation using the cost-effective raw material, methyl benzoate. This process aligns with the principles of atom economy and green production. Despite the development of numerous high-performance catalysts by scholars, the challenge remains in achieving lower reaction temperatures, ideally below 400 °C. In this study, a series of MnO_x/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were meticulously prepared using the precipitation-impregnation method. These catalysts featured supports calcined at various temperatures and distinct manganese active components. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ physical adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H₂ temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), and NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) were employed to analyze the structure and surface properties of the catalysts. Notably, the optimized reaction temperature was found to be 360 °C. The catalyst exhibited the most favorable performance when the calcination temperature of the support was 500 °C and the Mn/Al molar ratio reached 0.18. Under these conditions, the catalyst demonstrated the most suitable oxygen vacancy concentration, yielding impressive results: a conversion rate of 87.90% and a benzaldehyde selectivity of 86.1%. These achievements were attained at 360 °C, atmospheric pressure, a hydrogen to methyl benzoate molar ratio of 40:1, and a Gas Hourly Space Velocity (GHSV) of 800 h⁻¹. This research underscores the potential for optimizing catalysts to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of benzaldehyde synthesis.