Phosphorus compounds

Abstract

Novel chiral phosphorus compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R signifies substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which can be the same or different, signify hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino or protected hydroxymethyl or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together signify the group ##STR2## in which m represents a number 3 to 5, R.sup.4 represents lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or benzyl and R.sup.5 represents lower alkyl or both R.sup.5 's together represent lower alkylene, R.sup.3 signifies methyl, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino or fluorine and n signifies the number 0, 1, 2 or 3, are described. The compounds of formula I are useful in the form of complexes with a metal of Group VIII as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenations and enantioselective hydrogen displacements in prochiral allylic systems.