Preparation of cyclic esters by hydrogenation of a carbonyl group in at least one anhydride radical —C(O)—O—C(O)— of a cyclic dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic anhydride by means of hydrogen in the presence of a homogeneous noble metal catalyst, characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out in a homogeneous reaction mixture using an iridium catalyst. The cyclic esters are obtained in good chemical and optical yields when prochiral anhydrides are used together with chiral iridium catalysts.