A method of using a chiral phosphorus-containing ligand comprising at least one amine radical and at least one dihydrocarbylphosphinoxy radical of the formula W=OP(R).sub.2, in which R is a hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and cycloalkyl radicals, wherein said ligand is selected from the group consisting of those of the formula ##STR19## those of the formula ##STR20## those of the formula ##STR21## those of formula ##STR22## in which formulae:
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals;
- R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which must be different from one another, are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and hydrogen radicals that may or may not carry at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of the alcohol, thiol, thioether, amine, imine, acid, ester, amide, and ether functional groups;
- and
- R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and hydrocarbon radicals that may or may not contain functional groups;
- in a reaction for the synthesis of optically active organic compounds, comprising reacting one or more organic compounds that do not possess a center of asymmetry with (A) one or more transition metal complexes of the formula MZq, wherein M is a metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table, q is the degree of coordination of the metal M, and Z is an atom or molecule capable of complexing the metal M and (B) one or more such chiral phosphorus-containing ligands to form said optically active organic compound.