The role of acetic acid added to the reaction media for the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate over a (R,R)-tartaric acid-in-situ-modified nickel catalyst was studied from the viewpoint of the hydrogenation rate during repeated runs. The hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate on the ''enantio-differentiating sites'' of a tartaric acid-modified nickel catalyst was specifically accelerated by the acetic acid added to the reaction media to increase the enantio-differentiating ability of the catalyst. In order to increase the enantio-differentiating ability, the addition of acetic acid to the reaction media was required in each run during the repeated use of the catalyst.

The hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate on enantio-differentiating sites of a tartaric acid-modified nickel catalyst was specifically accelerated by the addition of acetic acid to the reaction media to increase the enantio-differentiating ability of the catalyst.

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