To provide a cobalt (II) complex and a cobalt (III) complex useful as a catalyst for obtaining high asymmetric yield and a β-ketoimine compound for producing these complexes and a salen compound.

This optically active (II) complex is represented by the following formula (1) or (1') [R1 and R2 may be same or different and each represent hydrogen atom, a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, a straight-chain or branched alkenyl group, a straight-chain or branched aryl group, acyl group or alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycabonyl group or aralkyloxycarbonyl group and the above-mentioned alkyl group, alkenyl group, aryl group, acyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, arhyoxycarbonyl group and aralkyloxycarbonyl group each may have a substituent group and R1 and R2 nay mutually be connected and may form a ring together with a carbon atom to which R1 and R2 are each bonded].