In this overview, the opportunities and problems associated with the industrial application of chiral catalysts (restricted to homogeneous metal complexes and modified metallic catalysts) are being analyzed in detail. In a first chapter, critical factors affecting the industrial feasibility of an enantioselective catalyst are discussed. In the following chapters, chiral catalysts with synthetic relevance are described and about 40 types of catalytic transformations are discussed in some detail and characterized regarding enantioselectivity, catalyst activity and productivity. In addition, existing selected industrial applications for pharmaceuticals, agrocheinicals and fragrances are reviewed. Finally the various transformations are assessed regarding their potential for future technical applications. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.