Abstract: The invention relates to 1,2-ferrocenyldiphosphines which contain a functional group in the 1′ position either directly or via a bridging group, and also a process for their preparation. The compounds are important for transition metal complexes containing d-8 metals such as Rh, Ru, Pd or Ir. These transition metal complexes are widely used in the hydrogenation of organic double or triple bonds, in particular olefinic double bonds and carbon-heteroatom double bonds. The complexes are particularly suitable for enantioselective hydrogenation using chiral ferrocenyldiphosphines and corresponding prochiral unsaturated compounds. Ferrocenyldiphosphines having a functional group in the 1′ position are also important intermediates for ferrocenyldiphosphine ligands and their metal complexes of d-8 metals such as rhodium, ruthenium, palladium or iridium which are bound to inorganic polymeric supports via this functional group.