To obtain a new ruthenium compound having excellent catalytic asymmetric reduction activity, useful for producing an optically active alcohol, by making the compound include an optically active phosphine and an optically active or racemic diamine as ligands.

This compound is represented by the formula: RuXY(PR1R2 R3)n[R4R5C(NR6R7)-R8R9C(NR10R11)]m [X and Y are each H or an anion; R1 to R3 are each a (substituted)alkyl, a (substituted) cycloalkyl, a (substituted) aralkyl or the like; any of R1 to R3 are each an optically active group; R4 to R11 are each H, a (substituted)alkyl, a (substituted)alkenyl, a (substituted) crcloalkyl, a (substituted)aralkyl or a (substituted)aryl; n and m are each 0-4] such as RuH2(tris-[3-{(1R)-1-methoxyethyl}phenyl]phosphine)2-(s,s)- diphenylethylenediamine. The compound of the formula is obtained by properly reacting a phosphine ligand with a diamine ligand and a ruthenium compound.