PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a new diol derivative as an intermediate suitable for effectively obtaining an optically active aminodiol represented by dihydrosphingosine useful as a protein kinase C inhibitor, etc., as a medicine. SOLUTION: This 2-nitro-1,3-diol derivatives is represented by formula I (R is a 12-18C alkyl or an alkenyl), especially (2S, 3S)-2-nitro-1,3-diol derivative of formula II or 2-nitro-1,3-diol derivative of formula III, e.g. threo (2S, 3S)-2- nitro-1,3-octadecane diol of formula IV. The compound of the formula I is obtained by reacting an aldehyde of the formula: RCHO with nitroethanol in the presence of a basic catalyst. As the basic catalyst, the catalyst prepared from an optically active 1,1'-bi-naphthol of formula V (R' is H, an alkyl, phenyl, a halogen, a trialkylsilylethinyl, etc.), etc., a rare-earth metal and an alkali metal, is preferable.