Bicyclic amino alcohols, whose amino group and hydroxy group are bonded in positions 1,3 adjacent to the bridge, for example are valuable ligands for metal complexes of the d-8 metals of the periodic table of elements. The metal complexes in question are catalysts or catalyst precursors for the asymmetric hydrogenation or asymmetric transfer hydrogenation with hydrogen donors of prochiral organic compounds with carbon double bonds or carbon/hetero atom double bonds, for example ketones and imines.