*Hydrogenolysis of ester compounds to the corresponding alcohols, and carbon–carbon and carbon–oxygen double bonds to single bonds. For example, sebacoin, derived from the acyloin condensation of dimethyl sebacate, is hydrogenated to 1,2-cyclodecanediol by this catalyst. Phenanthrene is also reduced, at the 9,10 position.
*Hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to 1,5-pentanediol at 250–300 °C under 3300-6000 psi of H.
*Decarboxylation of α-phenylcinnamic acid to cis-stilbene.
Reactions involving hydrogen are conducted at relatively high gas pressure (135 atm) and high temperatures (150–300 °C) in a so-called hydrogenation bomb. More active catalysts, such as W-6 grade Raney nickel, also catalyze hydrogenations such as ester reductions. The latter catalyst benefits from requiring less vigorous conditions (i.e., it works at room temperature under similar hydrogenation pressures) but requires the chemist to use a higher ratio of catalyst to reagents.