trans-2-(N-benzyl)amino-1-cyclohexanol by hydrogenation and subsequent derivatization give access to a broad variety of diversely substituted derivatives. Furthermore, the corresponding cis isomers are readilyavailable. Applications of these optically active aminocyclohexanols in catalyzed asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions to benzaldehydes and transfer hydrogenations of aryl ketones lead to products with