Homogeneous ruthenium catalyzed hydrogenation of esters to alcohols‡

The homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic and aliphatic esters to the corresponding alcohols, by a catalyst generated in situ from [Ru(acac)3] and MeC(CH2PPh2)3 in an alcoholic solvent under H2 pressure of 85 bar at 100–120 °C, is described.