METHOD OF PRODUCING DIOL, POLYDIOL, SECONDARY ALCOHOL OR DIKETONE COMPOUND

摘要

The invention is a process of using, as a reducing agent, a 12CaO·7Al₂O₃ electride containing electrons in a number of 10¹⁹ cm^-3 or more and 2.3 × 10²¹ cm^-3 or less in its cages to subject a carbonyl compound to reductive coupling in a solvent, thereby synthesizing a diol or polydiol. The invention is also a process of reducing a ketone compound in a solvent, thereby synthesizing a secondary alcohol or diketone compound. According to the process of the invention, it is possible to synthesize a diol or polydiol, or a secondary alcohol or diketone compound through simple operations in a short period without using an expensive and harmful metal hydride or metal salt nor limiting the atmosphere for the synthesis to an inert gas atmosphere as in conventional processes.