New selective deoxygenation reactions are needed for the efficient conversion of biomass-derived oxygenates to useful chemicals, including fuels. A new catalytic system is reported here for the selective hydrogenolysis of glycols to hydrocarbons. We find that cis-[RuCl2(sulfoxide)4] {sulfoxides: TMSO = tetramethylene sulfoxide; DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide} catalyze the hydrogenolysis of glycols to alcohols and hydrocarbons by molecular hydrogen at 190-200 degrees C and 6.8-26 atm; the product yields range from moderate to excellent. The acid generated by catalysts in situ serves the purpose of dehydration step, hence added Bronstead acid as co-catalyst is not a prerequisite. Under similar conditions epoxides are converted primarily to mono-alcohols and hydrocarbons. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.