Abstract: There is disclosed the reduction of alkyl esters of carbonic-carboxylic acid anhydrides at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of platinum group metal catalysts, especially palladium on activated carbon, to make alcohols. Novel alkyl esters of carbonic-carboxylic acid anhydrides are disclosed, and can be used to make the corresponding alcohols, e.g., substituted benzyl alcohols. The alcohols can be converted to the corresponding halo, e.g., chloro, compounds. The substituted benzyl halides can be reacted with di(lower alkoxy)propionitriles, and the resulting 5-benzyl pyrimidines such as trimethoprim, 2,4-diamino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-pyrimidine, which is a known anti-bacterial agent, are especially useful in combination with sulfa drugs such as sulfamethoxazole.