The invention relates to a process for preparing optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- or 2-alkoxy-1-alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating appropriate optically active 2-amino-, 2-chloro-, 2-hydroxy- and 2-alkoxycarboxylic acids or their acid derivatives in the presence of catalysts comprising palladium and rhenium or platinum and rhenium.