PURPOSE: To easily obtain the subject compd. from an inexpensive start source material by hydrogenating a racemic mixture of a specified compd. or an optically active aldehyde in the presence of a catalyst.

CONSTITUTION: A racemic mixture expressed by formula I or an optically active aldehyde is hydrogenated preferably at 50 to 150°C under 1 to 20 bar hydrogen pressure in a solvent, preferably benzene or toluene, in the presence of a catalyst, preferably such as RuCl2(PPh3)3, to obtain the objective compd. expressed by formula II. In formula I, R is H, an alkyl, an alkenyl (the alkyl or alkenyl chain contains heteroatoms).