PURPOSE: To provide new hydrophobic cobalamin derivatives improved in asymmetry-recognizing functions and useful for resolving a racemic compound as an asymmetric catalyst.

CONSTITUTION: Compounds of formula I {R, together with R' forms formula II [X is -(CH2)n-, formula III, etc.]; R2 is lower alkyl; X- is univalent anion}. The above-mentioned compound can be obtained by reacting a compound of formula IV synthesized from cyanocobalamin with a compound of formula V (Hal is halogen) in the presence of KCN in a solvent such as benzene, subsequently treating the resultant new intermediate with a perhalogenoic acid such as periodic acid in a solvent such as methylene chloride and then reducing the resultant new compound by a reducing agent such as NaBH4 in a solvent such as methanol.