This Account describes convenient procedures for the preparation of several enantiopure b-amino alcohols and b-di- amines, which have proved to be efficient ligands in relevant ste- reoselective reactions such as alkylation of enolates and hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds. Furthermore, the title com- pounds are useful precursors of various chiral oxazolidinones, ox- azinones, phosphonamides, etc., which allow the enantioselective formation of a wide variety of chiral derivatives, including alcohols, aldol condensation products, aminophosphonic acids, sulfoxides, and others, as well as the development of derivatizing reagents for the determination of enantiomeric purity in chiral alcohols and chiral amines.