The invention discloses a method for preparing a novel clamp-shaped complex and application of the novel clamp-shaped complex in the reaction of catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acid ester compounds to produce corresponding alcohols and reaction of carbon dioxide catalytic hydrogenation to form formamide compounds. Carboxylic acid esters and hydrogen as raw materials or carbon dioxide, hydrogen and amine compounds as raw materials are reacted in an organic solvent condition or a solvent-free condition in the presence of a transition metal complex as a catalyst to respectively form the corresponding alcohol compounds and/or corresponding formamide compounds. The method has the advantages of being high in reaction efficiency, good in selectivity, mild in conditions, economical, environmentally-friendly, and simple in operation, and has good promotion and application prospects.