The missing link: Chiral catenanes have been obtained by including prochiral phosphorus centers in both rings of a [2]catenane moiety. These compounds, which also contain stereogenic carbon atoms, have been prepared by the well known copper(I) template synthesis and have been isolated as enantiomerically pure, single diastereoisomers.

Keywords: Phosphorus / Crown compounds / Macrocyclic ligands (S,S)-Bis(2-hydroxypropyl)(phenyl)phosphane oxide has been prepared, either by ring-opening of (S)-propylene oxide with dilithio(phenyl)phosphane or by catalytic hydrogenation of bis(2-oxopropyl)(phenyl)phosphane oxide, promoted by ruthenium/MeO-BIPHEP. Catalytic hydrogenation also allowed the enantioselective synthesis of (R,R)-bis(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)(phenyl)phosphane oxide from the corresponding diketone. These bis(β-hydroxyalkyl)phosphane derivatives are suitable chiral starting materials for the synthesis of

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