Process for structural modification of unsaturated alcohols

A process for the production of a carbonyl compound from an olefinically unsaturated alcohol having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule and which is represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein R' and R" are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, n is an integer having a value in the range of 0 to 17, wherein the two R' groups can together represent an alkylene radical having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, which comprises contacting said olefinically unsaturated alcohol under reaction conditions with a catalytic amount of a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium II hydride complex of a tertiary phosphine ligand which is represented by the formula

• (R.sub.3 P).sub.3 RuHXY.sub.m
• wherein each R is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X is hydrogen or a halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine, Y is selected from the group consisting of CO and PR.sub.3, and m is an integer having a value of 0 or 1.