The reaction of (-)-N,N-dimethylephedrinium salts with R(2)PNMe(2) derivatives allows the high-yield synthesis of new chiral phosphorus ligands with an ammonium side chain, termed ''ephosiums''. Diphenyl-N,N-dimethylephosium hexaflurophosphate reacts with KHFe(CO)(4) to afford the chiral zwitterionic complex diphenyl-N,N-dimethylephosium hydridotricarbonylferrate, characterized by X-ray diffraction and NMR studies.