An enantioselective method for producing optically active 3-alkyl carboxylic acids comprises transforming an optically active secondary alcohol into an optically active, activated compound by introducing a leaving group; reacting the activated compound with a malonic acid derivative to obtain an optically active, alkylated malonic acid compound, the reaction taking place exclusively in ether and/or carboxylic acid ester solvents and one or more aprotic polar solvents or alcohols as a cosolvent in a maximum proportion of 30 volume percent of total solvent, wherein the added cosolvent is not hexamethyl phosphoric acid triamide; the malonic acid compound is hydrolyzed if necessary to obtain the corresponding acid; and the corresponding acid is decarboxylated.