The Rh (I) complex of a monodentate phosphoramidite bearing a primary amine moiety (DpenPhos) has been disclosed to be highly efficient for the asymmetric hydrogenation of a variety of α-or β-acyloxy α, β-unsaturated phosphonates, providing the corresponding biologically important chiral α-or β-hydroxy phosphonic acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities (90–> 99% ee).
