| abstract |
Described are racemic optically active phosphorus compounds of formula (I), in which R is a hydroxy or protected hydroxy group, R<1> is a hydroxy or protected hydroxy group or a lower alkoxy group and R<2> is a lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group or, together with the phosphorus atom, a group of formula (a). The compounds of formula (I) act, in the form of complexes with a group VIII metal, as catalysts for asymmetric-hydrogenation reactions and enantiomer-selective hydrogen-displacement reactions in prochiral allylic systems. |