Abstract: An optically active 2-diphenylphosphinomethyl-2'-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1'-binaphthalene derivative represented by the following general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R represents a phenyl group, a tolyl group, an anisyl group or a chlorophenyl group, and a process for the production of optically active substances in which the above compound and a transition metal compound are used. The asymmetric diphosphine of the present invention is related to the creation of novel compounds, which is excellent as a ligand for asymmetric synthesis use. When the above compound is used together with a transition metal compound such as of ruthenium, rhodium or the like, it shows markedly excellent properties as the catalyst of asymmetric hydrogenation and the like reactions, in terms of selectivity, conversion ratio, catalytic activity and the like.

Abstract: A process for producing optically active polyketone which comprises allowing a mono-substituted ethylene to react with carbon monoxide in the presence of a palladium-phosphine complex formed from a phosphine represented by the following general formula (I) ##STR1## (wherein Ar.sup.1 is a phenyl group which may be substituted with one or more substituent groups selected from a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group and a halogen) and a palladium salt. An isotactic (stereoregular) optically active polyketone having high molecular weight (Mn) in which the direction of a mono-substituted ethylene against ketone is a head to tail type (positional regularity) can be produced efficiently by a simple and easy process for the copolymerization of propylene, styrene or the like mono-substituted ethylene with carbon monoxide.