The invention relates to a process for the reduction of compounds comprising a carbon-carbon (C.dbd.C), carbon-oxygen (C.dbd.O), or carbon-nitrogen (C.dbd.N) double bond, to a corresponding hydrogenated alkane, alcohol or amine, comprising contacting a compound comprising the C.dbd.C, C.dbd.O or C.dbd.N double bond with a hydrogen donor solvent and a catalyst comprising a metal complex having a tridentate aminodiphosphine ligand under transfer hydrogenation conditions.