Phosphorus compounds

Abstract

Novel, racemic and optically active phosphorus compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R signifies lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy or a protected hydroxy group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are different from each other and represent lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, a five-membered heteroaromatic or a group of the formula ##STR2## 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 for enantioselective hydrogen displacements in prochiral allylic systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.