Abstract: This document describes a novel and practically excellent process for the preparation of optically active compounds, such as optically active alcohols or amines which are useful for various applications, for example, as synthetic intermediates of pharmaceuticals, liquid crystal materials, and reagents for optical resolution, wherein a hydrogen transfer type asymmetric reduction is carried out in the presence of both a transition metal complex and an optically active nitrogen compound or a transition metal complex having an optically active nitrogen compounds as an asymmetric ligand, and a hydrogen-donating organic or inorganic compound.