Patent ID: 7541307

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an optically active hydroxymethylated compound that allows a silicon enolate represented by the following formula (Formula 1) (in the formula, R 5 to R 7 represent hydrogen atoms, aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon groups, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or aromatic-aliphatic hydrocarbon groups or heterocyclic groups, R 5 and R 7 are different, R 6 is not a hydrogen atom, each R 8 may be identical or different and represents a methyl group, ethyl group or isopropyl group) and formaldehyde to react in an aqueous solution or in a mixed solvent of water and an organic solvent or in a mixed solvent of water and organic solvents in the presence of a catalyst obtained by blending a ligand comprising a chiral bipyridine compound or its antipode and a Lewis acid represented by BiY 3 (in the formula, Y represents a halogen atom, OAc, OCOCF 3 , ClO 4 , SbF 6 , PF 6 or OSO 2 CF 3 ).