The transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation reactions attract long-lasting interest from both academic research and industrial production. [1] The development of chiral ligands is the essential impetus for the asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. During the past decades, chiral P, N ligands having both phosphorus and nitrogen atoms as the coordinating groups become popular in the hydrogenation reactions. [2] Generally, molecules with sp 2 nitrogen atoms, such as oxazoline and pyridine, are required for achieving good results for the chiral P, N ligands. Although several phosphine amine ligands containing primary amine moieties have been successfully applied in the highly enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones, [3] to our knowledge, such ligands have not been applied successfully in the asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins. Herein we report the preparation of novel chiral spiro aminophosphine ligands bearing a primary amine moiety 3 (Scheme 1) and their applications in the hydrogenation of a,b-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The iridium complexes 5 derived from the chiral spiro aminophosphine ligands showed unprecedentedly high activity (turnover numbers (TONs) up to 10 000; turnover frequencies (TOFs) up to 6000 h À1 ) and enantioselectivity (94-99 % ee). The primary amine moiety in the catalysts 5 is the key for obtaining high activity and enantioselectivity.Chiral spiro aminophosphine ligands 3 and 4 were easily prepared starting from optically pure 1 (Scheme 1). [4] Palladium-catalyzed cyanation of 1 (step a) followed by LiAlH 4 reduction (step b) afforded ligands 3 in good yield. Ligands 4, which have an N-methyl group, were prepared from 3 through condensation with ethyl chloroformate and LiAlH 4 reduction in one pot (step c). The iridium complexes 5 were prepared by refluxing a mixture of [{Ir(cod)Cl} 2 ], 3 or 4, and NaBAr F in dichloromethane for two hours (step d). Complexes 5 were stable enough to be purified by silica gel column chromatography and stored in air without degradation for a few months. The structure of complex (S a )-5 a was proved by an X-ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal. [5] According to the crystal structure, (S a )-3 a acts as a chelating P, N ligand and creates a rigid chiral pocket around the iridium center.The asymmetric hydrogenation of a-substituted acrylic acids 6 (for structures see Table 2) is of highly practical value because the products, optically pure a-substituted propionic acids, include important biologically active compounds. For example, ibuprofen (7 a) and naproxen (7 f), [6] two wellknown non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, can be readily prepared by asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding a-aryl acrylic acids. Although chiral ruthenium catalysts usually give high enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of a-substituted acrylic acids, most of these catalysts require high hydrogen pressure (e.g., 100 atm) to achieve complete conversion and high enantioselectivity. [7] The high pressure markedly limits the practical applicatio...