The present invention relates to a process for producing an optically active 1-alkyl-substituted 2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine, which is an important intermediate of medicines and agricultural chemicals, and which is represented by the formula [3] [in the formula R represents a lower alkyl group of a carbon and * represents an asymmetric carbon], or its salt by subjecting an optically active imine represented by the formula [1] to an asymmetric reduction under hydrogen atmosphere using a metal catalyst of Group VIII to convert it into an optically active secondary amine represented by the formula [2] and then by subjecting the secondary amine or its salt to hydrogenolysis.[Chem. 23] ##STR00001##