Catalyst for producing both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diols, process for producing the catalyst, process for producing the diols by using the catalyst, and both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diols obtained by the process

A catalyst which contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group V elements, Group VI elements, Group VII elements, Group VIII elements, Group IX elements, Group X elements, and Group XI elements in the periodic table, and is to be used for subjecting an epoxy alcohol represented by the following general formula (1) to a hydrogenolysis reaction in the presence of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of ethers, esters, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, to thereby obtain a both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diol represented by the following general formula (2).

• General formula (1);
• 19
• (wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms and n represents an integer of 1 to 6);
• General formula (2):
• 20
• (wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 1 to 6).