Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active ?-nitroalcohols wherein nitroaldol reactions of aldehydes and nitroalkanes are carried out in the presence of a base and an optically active metal complex catalyst represented by the following formula (c): (where R4, R5, and R6 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or an aryloxycarbonyl group, and R5 and R6 may be linked together to form a ring; X* represents a hydrocarbon group having an asymmetric carbon atom or axial asymmetry; M represents a cobalt ion or a chromium ion; and Y represents an anion capable of forming a salt when the valence of M is larger than that of a ligand).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active ?-nitroalcohols wherein nitroaldol reactions of aldehydes and nitroalkanes are carried out in the presence of a base and an optically active metal complex catalyst represented by the following formula (c): (where R4, R5, and R6 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or an aryloxycarbonyl group, and R5 and R6 may be linked together to form a ring; X* represents a hydrocarbon group having an asymmetric carbon atom or axial asymmetry; M represents a cobalt ion or a chromium ion; and Y represents an anion capable of forming a salt when the valence of M is larger than that of a ligand).