This work aims to highlight the underrated role played by pure phosphotriester (or phosphate) ligands in catalysis, when compared to other phosphorus-containing donors such as phosphane oxides or phosphites. To probe this and to enlarge the very narrow catalytic scope of these Lewis bases, easily accessible mono- and bidentate phosphotriesters were tested as donors in two important transition metal-based catalytic transformations: the zinc-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones and the titanium-promoted diethylzinc addition to aldehydes. In both cases, the reactions were successful and the corresponding alcohols were obtained in high yields.