The applications and recent progresses of chiral amino alcohols as either ligands or catalysts in asymmetric synthesis are reviewed.

Cyanohydrins are biologically active compounds used in synthesis of - amino alcohols, - hydroxy ketones and - hydroxy acids, which have importance as fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

The industrial synthesis of certain optically active intermediates, including chiral amino acids, carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines and epoxides is reviewed.