FIELD: production of catalysts. SUBSTANCE: reduced catalytic composition (RCC) which contains copper and aluminium is prepared by reduction of homogeneous mixture of copper oxides and aluminium. The process is carried out in the presence of reducing gas, temperature being gradually increased from 40-75 C to 150-250 C, rate of reduction being 3-18 C/ h. Coprecipitation of copper and aluminium as their water soluble salts is carried out before reduction. Thus prepared precipitate is dried and calcined. Then coprecipitation of catalyst followed by its reduction is carried out, temperature during reduction being gradually increased from 50 to 180 C, mass ratio of copper and aluminium being 90:10 - 10:90. EFFECT: increases activity and selectivity of catalyst. 5 cl, 8 tbl
