A method for preparing a thiazolidinedione, oxazolidinedione or hydantoin compound of formula (I) from a compound of formula (II):
wherein Q represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; Q1 represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; R1 and R2, which can be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl chain, a cycloalkyl, an alkylaryl, an arylalkyl; the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl groups being optionally substituted by an alkyl, an alkoxy or aryloxy, a halogen, a hydroxy, a sulfino, a sulfonyl, an amino such as NH2, NHR3, N(R3)2, wherein R3 represents an alkyl, an alkoxy or an alkylcarbonyl, reacting a compound of formula (II) with formic acid, either as a hydrogen donor in a hydrogen-transfer reaction or as a solvent in a hydrogenation reaction, in the presence of a catalyst containing a transition metal to obtain a corresponding compound of formula (I).