PURPOSE: To produce the titled substance in good yield, by cultivating a microorganism having the ability to oxidize and reduce an alcohol and ketone having sulfur substituent group in a culture medium containing an α-sulfur-substituted ketone or β-sulfur-substituted ketone.

CONSTITUTION: A microorganism, e.g. Corynebacterium equi IFO3730, Corynebacterium equi ATCC7699, etc., belonging to the genus Corynebacterium and having the ability to reduce an α-sulfur-substituted ketone (expressed by formula I) or oxidize a β-sulfur-substituted alcohol (expressed by formula II) is cultivated. Any culture medium in which the microorganism is multipliable may be used and a seed microorganism is inoculated under aerobic condition. After multiplying the microorganism, the α-sulfur-substituted ketone or β-sulfur- substituted alcohol which is a substrate is added. The resultant culture fluid is then extracted with an organic solvent to isolate and purify the aimed optically active alcohol using column chromatography, recrystallization, etc.