Disclosed herein are processes for preparing an α,ω-Cn-diol, wherein n is 5 or greater, from a feedstock comprising a Cn oxygenate. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting the feedstock with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising Cu, a Cu oxide, or mixtures thereof; a heteropoly acid component comprising H3[P(W3O10)4], H4[Si(W3O10)4], H4[P(Mo3O10)4], H4[Si(Mo3O10)4], Cs2.5H0.5[P(W3O10)4], Cs2.5H0.5[Si(W3O10)4], or mixtures thereof; optionally a second metal component comprising Cr, a Cr oxide, Ni, a Ni oxide, Mn, a Mn oxide, Fe, an Fe oxide, Co, a Co oxide, Mo, a Mo oxide, W, a W oxide, Re, a Re oxide, Zn, or a Zn oxide, Ag, a Ag oxide, SiO2, or Al2O3; optionally at least one promoter comprising Na, K, Mg, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ce, or mixtures thereof; and optionally a support.