The acetoxy(phenyl)carbene complex [Cp(CO) 2 Mn C(OAc)Ph] (2) reacts with chiral b-aminoalcohols HOR* [HOR* =N,Ndimethyl alaninol (3), N,N-dimethyl valinol (4), N,N-dimethyl leucinol (5), N,N-dimethylphenyl alaninol (6), and N-formylprolinol (7)] by displacement of the acetoxy substituent and formation of the b-aminoalkoxy(phenyl)carbene complexes [Cp(CO) 2 Mn C(OR*)Ph] (8-12). Irradiation of 9-12 in the presence of PR 3 (R =Ph, OMe) affords the carbene(carbonyl)cyclopentadienyl(PR 3 )manganese complexes [Cp(CO)(PR 3 )Mn C(OR*)Ph]. The substitution proceeds diastereoselectively, the diastereomeric excess ranging from 28% to \90%. The highest diastereoselectivity ( \ 90%) is observed in the reaction of 9 (R*= CH 2 C(NMe 2 )HCMe 2 H) with PR 3 . In solution, complex 9 is not stable configurationally and epimerizes within a few days. The reaction of 2 with HOC 2 H 4 SCH 2 Ph affords [Cp(CO) 2 Mn C(OC 2 H 4 SCH 2 Ph)Ph] (22) which, on photolysis, is transformed, by loss of a CO ligand, into a chelating carbene complex (24). In the presence of PR 3 compound 24 cannot be converted thermally into [Cp(CO)(PR 3 )Mn C(OC 2 H 4 SCH 2 Ph)Ph].