PURPOSE: To hydrogenate bound oxygen-containing organic compounds efficiently and in high yield by contacting an organic compound with hydrogen under the presence of a certain catalyst composition.

CONSTITUTION: Hydrogenation of bound oxygen-containing organic compounds is carried out by contacting an organic compound such as methyl acetate as steam with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst composition produced by heating and reducing an uniform mixture of copper-aluminum oxide in the presence of a reducing gas at a temperature that starts at a temperature of 40 to 75°C, gradually increases up to finally 150 to 250°C.