Process for producing optically active alcohol

摘要

A novel process in which an optically active alcohol compound having a desired absolute configuration and a high optical purity can be obtained by asymmetrically hydrogenating a beta-keto acid compound through a simple operation. An optically active alcohol represented by general formula (III) as defined is obtained by asymmetrically hydrogenating a beta-keto ester compound represented by general formula (I) as defined in the presence of at least one ruthenium complex having as a ligand an optically active tertiary diphosphine compound represented by general formula (II) as defined.