PURPOSE: To efficiently obtain under mild conditions an α,β-unsaturated alcohol useful as an intermediate for synthetic resins, medicines or pesticides by hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde using as catalyst an inexpensive and low toxic metal.

CONSTITUTION: An α,β-unsaturated alcohol can be obtained in an industrially advantageous way by hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde of formula I (R5 and R6 are each alkyl, aryl or H; where, at least one of them being H) in the presence of a catalyst at the molar ratio: raw material/catalyst of (1:0.00001) to (1:1) [pref. (1: 0.001) to (1:0.1)] normally under a hydrogen pressure of 1-100 bar at 0-200°C for 0.1-50hr (pref. under a hydrogen pressure of 5-80 bar at 20-150°C for 0.5-20hr). The catalyst is a ruthenium compound of formula II (R1 to R4 are each alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl or phenoxycarbonyl).