Abstract Three kinds of hydrogen-transfer reactions, namely racemization of chiral secondary alcohols, reduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols using 2-propanol as a hydrogen donor, and isomerization of allylic alcohols to saturated ketones, are efficiently promoted by the easily prepared and inexpensive supported ruthenium catalyst Ru (OH) x/Al 2 O 3. A wide variety of substrates, such as aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic alcohols ...