A method of producing an optically active compound represented by the formula: wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s) selected from the following Group G1 or a hydrogen atom, and the carbon atom marked with ** is an asymmetric carbon atom, which comprises a step of reacting chloroacetaldehyde with a compound represented by the formula: R 1 -CH 2 CHO wherein R 1 is as defined above, in the presence of an optically active compound represented by the formula: wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 are each independently a phenyl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from the following Group G2, a C 1 -C 12 chain hydrocarbon group, a C 3 -C 12 alicyclic hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom, R 5 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 12 fluorinated alkyloxy group or a group represented by -OSiR 6 R 7 R 8 wherein R 6, R 7 and R 8 are each independently a C 1 -C 8 alkyl group or a C 6 -C 20 aryl group, and the carbon atom marked with * is an asymmetric carbon atom; <Group G1>: a group consisting of a C 6 -C 20 aryl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, an aromatic heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group having C 6 -C 20 aryl group(s) optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, a halogen atom, an oxo group and a tri-C 1 -C 12 alkylsilyl group; <Group G2>: a group consisting of a C 1 -C 12 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 13 alkoxycarbonyl group, a C 1 -C 12 fluorinated alkyl group, a C 2 -C 13 acyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a protected amino group and a halogen atom. R 1 is a C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s) selected from the following Group G1 or a hydrogen atom, and the carbon atom marked with ** is an asymmetric carbon atom, which comprises a step of reacting chloroacetaldehyde with a compound represented by the formula: R 1 -CH 2 CHO wherein R 1 is as defined above, Ar 1 and Ar 2 are each independently a phenyl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from the following Group G2, a C 1 -C 12 chain hydrocarbon group, a C 3 -C 12 alicyclic hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom, R 5 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 12 fluorinated alkyloxy group or a group represented by -OSiR 6 R 7 R 8 wherein R 6, R 7 and R 8 are each independently a C 1 -C 8 alkyl group or a C 6 -C 20 aryl group, and the carbon atom marked with * is an asymmetric carbon atom; <Group G1>: a group consisting of a C 6 -C 20 aryl group optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, an aromatic heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group having C 6 -C 20 aryl group(s) optionally having substituent(s) selected from Group G2, a halogen atom, an oxo group and a tri-C 1 -C 12 alkylsilyl group; <Group G2>: a group consisting of a C 1 -C 12 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 12 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 13 alkoxycarbonyl group, a C 1 -C 12 fluorinated alkyl group, a C 2 -C 13 acyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a protected amino group and a halogen atom.