Optically active cyclic amines of the formula (I) or salts thereof in which A, R0, R are each as defined in claim 1, and R0 and A, or R and A, or R0 and R may also form rings, where R and the NH—R0 group on the two ring carbon atoms marked with an asterisk (*) in each case are arranged in cis arrangement to one another and the stereochemical configuration on these carbon atoms is different from the racemic configuration, can be prepared effectively by a process, which comprises converting an imine (a racemic imine) of the formula (II) in which A, R0 and R are each as defined in formula (I), in the presence of hydrogen or a hydrogen donor and a nonenzymatic catalyst which comprises a catalytically active optically active complex of one or more transition metals from the group of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, osmium, platinum, iron, nickel and samarium with organic ligands, to the compound of the formula (I).