The　asymmetric　addition　reactions　between　varied　nonaromatic　aldehydes　and　diethylzinc　catalyzed　by　chiral　phosphoramide　L1　and　thiophosphorodiamide　L4　were　thoroughly　investigated.　Both　ligands　worked　very　well　for　α-branched　aliphatic　and　α-branched　α,β-unsaturated　aldehydes.　For　α-nonbranched　aliphatic　aldehydes,　L4　behaved　much　better　than　L1.　For　α-nonbranched　α,β-unsaturated　aldehydes,　L4　showed　high　enantioselectivities　and　L1　only　gave　racemic　alcohol　products.　©2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.