Heterogeneous Ru-Sn catalysts are effective for the liquid phase hydrogenation of the C=O group in carboxylates : (Bu(3)Sn)(2)O and Sn(OEt)(4) were used as Sn precursors, and Al2O3 and TiO2 were found to be the appropriate supports. A catalyst made from SnCl2 showed low activity for the hydrogenation of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester, but its activity was increased by raising the calcination temperature, which served to remove Cl from the catalyst. The highest activity was found for an Ru-Sn catalyst which was alkali-washed after calcination.