Methods are provided for producing an optically active secondary alcohol at a high optical purity by hydrogenating a substrate carbonyl compound at a high efficiency using as a catalyst a ruthenium complex bearing as a ligand certain optically active diphosphine compound and a readily synthesized amine compound. For example, aromatic ketones and heteroaromatic ketones are reacted with hydrogen and/or a hydrogen donating compound in the presence of the ruthenium complex.