text: Phosphinooxazolines are able to influence both the enantioselectivity and regioselectivity of a range of metal catalysed reactions. In reactions involving symmetric transition states these properties work in concert to induce asymmetry and thus promote the formation of a single product. Enantioselectivity is controlled by the chirality of the ligand which is normally located on the oxazoline ring, however the P-centre may also be stereogenic. Regioselectivity is controlled by variety of steric and electronic factors the most important of which being a form of trans effect, in which atoms complexed trans to the P‑atom become more electrophilic than ones located trans to the N‑atom. This is caused by the P‑atom engaging in back bonding, as it is a π‑electron acceptor.