This invention aims at providing a catalyst for producing an optically active aldehyde or an optically active ketone, which is an optically active carbonyl compound, by carrying out selective asymmetric hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound, particularly a catalyst which is insoluble in a reaction mixture for obtaining optically active citronellal which is useful as a flavor or fragrance, by carrying out selective asymmetric hydrogenation of citral, geranial or neral; and a method for producing a corresponding optically active carbonyl compound. The invention relates to a catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound, which comprises a powder of at least one metal selected from metals belonging to Group 8 to Group 10 of the Periodic Table, or a metal-supported substance in which at least one metal selected from metals belonging to Group 8 to Group 10 of the Periodic Table is supported on a support, an optically active cyclic nitrogen-containing compound and an acid.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an optically active menthol having fewer steps, which generates less environmentally polluting waste because a catalytic reaction is involved in all of the steps, and is capable of saving a production cost. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optically active menthol, including the following steps: A-1) asymmetrically hydrogenating at least one of geranial and neral to thereby obtain an optically active citronellal, B-1) conducting a ring-closure reaction of the optically active citronellal in the presence of an acid catalyst to thereby obtain an optically active isopulegol, and C-1) hydrogenating the optically active isopulegol to thereby obtain an optically active menthol.