Patent ID: 7985880

Claim:
A method for producing an optically active 1-(fluoro-, trifluoromethyl- or trifluoromethoxy-substituted phenyl)alkylamine N-monoalkyl compound of the formula [4], comprising: conducting reductive alkylation of an optically active secondary amine of the formula [1] and a formaldehyde (including an equivalent thereof) or lower aldehyde of the formula [2] in the presence of a transition metal catalyst under a hydrogen gas atmosphere, thereby converting the secondary amine to an optically active tertiary amine of the formula [3]; and subjecting the tertiary amine to hydrogenolysis where R represents a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethoxy group; n is an integer of 1 to 5; the substitution position is arbitrary; R 1 represents an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 6; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 5; Me represents a methyl group; Ar represents a phenyl group or 1- or 2-naphthyl group; and * represents an asymmetric carbon.