PURPOSE: To produce the corresponding alcohol from carboxylic acid esters at a low cost according to simple operation by utilizing a hydrogen-transfer reducing reaction.
CONSTITUTION: Carboxylic acid esters are reduced in the presence of alcohols as a hydrogen source and a magnesium oxide-containing catalyst. In this case, other metallic oxides, e.g. at least one of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, zinc oxide, copper oxide and iron oxide may be contained in the magnesium oxide- containing catalyst. The metallic atomic ratio of the magnesium oxide to the other metallic oxides is 1:(0.01-10.0). This magnesium-containing catalyst can be produced by pulverizing magnesium oxide or a mixture of the magnesium oxide with the other metallic oxides or metallic hydroxides, thermally decomposing and dehydrating the pulverized mixture.
Yoneda Koichi
Takeo Hosokai
