The invention relates to the industrial conversion of carbohydrates, alcohols,
aldehydes or polyhydroxy compounds in aqueous phase. According to the invention
a catalytic method is used for the conversion, using a metal catalyst consisting
of polymer-stabilized nanoparticles. A catalyst of this type is not deactivated
by the conversion reaction as long as the stabilizing interaction between the polymer
and the nanoparticles is maintained.
