PURPOSE: To obtain a compound useful as a synthetic intermediate for physiologically active substances such as pheromones.

CONSTITUTION: This (S)-2-(t-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-1-nitropropane is expressed by the formula. The compound can be obtained at a low cost on a large scale by reacting (S)-1-nitro-2-propanol with t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride in a solvent such as DMF. Furthermore, this compound can be used as a raw material and subjected to the Michael addition reaction with methyl vinyl ketone in the presence of a base and subsequently the denitration hydrogenating reaction in tributylstannane/azobisisobutyronitrile system to afford optically active 6-(t- butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-heptanone.