Catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic anhydrides to esters or lactones

A process for the production of esters or lactones, comprising reacting in the presence of a catalyst and under hydrogenation conditions hydrogen and an acyclic or cyclic carboxylic anhydride to produce the corresponding ester or lactone, wherein the catalyst is a supported catalyst comprising: (a) a group VIII metal, Re and Fe; (b) a group VIII metal on TiO2; (c) Ru and at least one of Re, Ag or Cu; or (d) Pd and Fe. Preferably, the anhydride has the formula and is reacted to form an ester of the formula or a lactone of the formula wherein R and R1 independently are lower alkyl or cycloalkyl; R2, R3, R4, R5 independently are hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; and wherein R3 and R4 taken together may form a saturated or unsaturated ring, or an aromatic ring. The more preferred starting material is phthalic anhydride.