Chiral organophosphates as ligands in asymmetric metal catalysis

Chiral organophosphoric acids have made a huge contribution in the context of asymmetric organocatalysis. Surprisingly, the application of chiral organophosphates as ligands in asymmetric metal-catalysis is less well-studied. However, based on the number of different readily available chiral phosphates (e.g. biphenyl phosphates, binaphthyl phosphates, spirocyclic phosphates or vaulted biphenanthrol phosphates) and the large number of available metal sources, this area of research offers many exciting possibilities. In this Minireview, the most recent examples of chiral metal-phosphate catalysis are discussed, including main-group catalysis using Li-, Mg-, Ca-, In- or Bi-phosphates, transition-metal catalysis using Ti-, Mn-, Rh-, Pd-, Ag- and Au-phosphates and catalysis by rare-earth metals based on Yb-phosphates.