Dimethyl 1,19-nonadecanedioate is produced from the methoxycarbonylation of commercial olive, rapeseed or sunflower oils in the presence of a catalyst derived from [Pd₂(dba)₃], bis(ditertiarybutylphosphinomethyl)benzene (BDTBPMB) and methanesulphonic acid (MSA). The diester is then hydrogenated to 1,19-nonadecanediol using Ru/1,1,1-tris-(diphenylphosphinemethyl)ethane (triphos). 1,19-Nonadecadienoic acid is hydrogenated to short chain oligoesters, which can themselves be hydrogenated to 1,19-nonadecanol by hydrogenation in the presence of water.