Patent ID: 8344187

Claim:
A method of respectively reducing esters represented by a general formula [2] where R 1 is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, alkenyl group, substituted alkenyl group, aromatic ring group or substituted aromatic ring group; and R 2 is an alkyl group or substituted alkyl group, or lactones represented by a general formula [3] where R 1 —R 2 indicates that R 1 and R 2 of the esters represented by the general formula [2] are bonded by a covalent bond, to alcohols represented by a general formula [4] where R 1 is the same as R 1 of the esters represented by the general formula [2], and diols represented by a general formula [5] where R 1 —R 2 indicates that R 1 and R 2 of the esters represented by the general formula [2] are bonded by a covalent bond, in the presence of a Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex represented by a general formula [1] AMBC [1] where A is a cyclopentadienyl(Cp) group or 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) group; M is Fe, Ru or Os; B is halogen, carbon monoxide, acetonitrile, phenylisocyanide or triphenylphosphine; and C is a bidentate ligand of a nitrogen-nitrogen (N—N) or phosphorus-nitrogen (P—N), base and hydrogen gas (H 2 ).