The rhodium-catalyzedasymmetrichydrogenation of various β-dehydroamino acid derivatives to give optically active β-amino acids has been examined. Chiral monodentate 4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphthophosphepines, which are easily tuned and accessible in a multi-10-g scale, have been used as ligands. The enantioselectivity is largely dependent on the nature of the substituent at the phosphorous atom and on