A new series of chiral beta-amino alcohols derived from (S)-leucine has been synthesized. The amino alcohol possessing a piperidine ring and a phenethyl group on the carbinol carbon atom was found to be an efficient ligand to catalyze the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic (up to 97% ee) and aliphatic (up to 95% ee) aldehydes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.