Optically active 1-substituted phenyl-2-nitro alcohol derivatives having the formula (1) ##STR00001## and the process for producing thereof, and 1-substituted phenyl-2-amino alcohol derivatives having the formula (2) ##STR00002## and the process for producing thereof from the optically active 1-substituted phenyl-2-nitro alcohol derivatives. From these nitro alcohols, pharmaceuticals such as (R)-albutamin and (R)-sarmeterol useful as a bronchodilator is obtained via optically active amino alcohols which are useful pharmaceutical intermediates.