Patent ID: 8013193

Claim:
A method for producing an alcohol, comprising subjecting a lactone or a carboxylic acid ester to hydrogen reduction in a solvent or without solvent, in the presence of a catalyst containing ruthenium and a phosphine compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R 1 represents a spacer; R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; and R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 and R 13 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.