Abstract A convenient and inexpensive general preparation method for 1- arylethylphosphonic acids and their esters was developed involving in reduction of the corresponding 1-ethenylphosphonates by ammonium formate in the presence of palladium on carbon. A homogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of 1-arylethenylphosphonic acids in the presence of chiral ruthenium catalysts provided optically active 1- ...