In　this　review　article,　the　methods,　such　as　chemical　reduction,　deposition-precipitation　reduction,　chemical　vapor　deposition,　and　thermal　annealing　for　the　synthesis　of　intermetallic　compounds　are　briefly　described.　These　different　synthesis　methods　possess　intrinsically　advantages　and　shortcomings,　therefore,　suitable　methods　may　be　selected　according　to　the　actual　requirements　in　practical　applications.　Catalytic　activities　of　intermetallic　compounds　for　the　reactions　of　oxidation,　hydrogenation,　and　reforming　are　summarized,　from　which　it　is　found　that　intermetallic　compounds　are　a　kind　of　highly　efficient　catalytic　materials,　and　their　high　catalytic　performance　is　associated　with　the　ordered　atom　arrangement,　electronic　effect,　geometric　effect,　steric　effect,　and　synergistic　action.　In　addition,　the　future　investigation　work　on　such　materials　is　also　envisioned.　©　All　right　reserved.