A process for preparing an 1,3-alkanediol from a 3-hydroxyester includes hydrogenating a 3-hydroxyester in an alcohol-containing solvent in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst prepared by adding an alkaline precipitator to an aqueous solution containing a copper salt to form particles, and then aging the particles following addition of colloidal silica thereto. The switch element includes a set of ingress devices, a set of center stage devices, and a set of egress devices. For a CIP configuration, the front edge and the rear edge are oxidized to form non-conductive regions. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The compounds are useful as protein kinase inhibitors, especially as inhibitors of GSK-3 and Aurora, for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Optionally, the device may include a heating apparatus, such as a steam generator connected via a pressure control valve to a steam super heater, a cooling chamber connected via a pressure control valve with a condenser, a vacuum pump in communication with the chamber, units for condensation and collecting finished products and a vacuum control unit in communication with the chamber.