Cycloolefin phosphine ligands and their use in catalysis

A ligand or its salt of the general formula:

• wherein R and R′ are each independently:
• alkyl;
• aryl;
• aralkyl;
• alkenyl;
• alkynyl;
• alkoxyl;
• aryloxyl;
• alkylthio;
• arylthio;
• or an unsubstituted or substituted cyclic moiety wherein said cyclic moeity is a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated or partially saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, said ring comprising 4 to 8 atoms and 0 to 3 heteroatoms;
• and wherein said ligand, when chiral, may be present as either a mixture of enantiomers or as a single enantiomer.