Reduction of nitroaliphatics via homogeneous catalysis

A process for providing homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of nitroalcohols to form amino alcohols comprising hydrogenating an aliphatic nitroalcohol represented by the formula RR'C(OH)--CR"HNO.sub.2, wherein each R, R' and R" independently is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, or substituted alkyl group and said substitution is of hydroxyl, halogen, amino or aryl group, by contacting a solution of the nitroalcohol in an inert solvent with hydrogen at a pressure of from about 500 to about 1500 psi and a temperature of from about 30.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of soluble catalyst complex formed from a soluble organometallic compound of a metal selected from Rh, Ir, Pt or Pd and a soluble organophosphine represented by Z.sub.3 P or Z.sub.2 P--Y--PZ.sub.2 wherein each Z represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl or an aryl group and Y represents a divalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl group or an organometallic radical of a transition metal, and separating the amino alcohol formed.