A process for preparing a compound of the formula IA or IB, wherein R is a!kyl, aminoalkyl, halogenalkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxy, phenyl or substituted phenyl or pyridyl group; the term alkyl means carbon chain, straight or branched, containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; the term halogen represents fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine; the term cycloalkyl represents a saturated alicyclic gτoup with 3 to 6 carbon atoms; the term aryl represents unsubstituted phenyl group or phenyl substituted by alkoxy, halogen or nitro group, the process comprising asymmetric hydrogenation of a compound of the formula II, wherein R has the same meanings as above, using a chiral catalyst and a source of hydrogen.