Four chiral C2 -symmetric diols were synthesized in a straightforward three-step reaction and demonstrated excellent enantioselectivities and good overall yields. Their catalytic activities were examined via the addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes. The enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to 2-methoxybenzaldehyde gave the corresponding chiral secondary alcohol with high yields (up to 95%) and moderate to good enantiomeric excess (up to 88%). All synthesized ligands were evaluated in the addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes in the presence of an additional metal such as Ti(IV) complexes. Chirality 28:593-598, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

C2-symmetric bisphosphine ligands (with a dioxolane backbone) have been synthesized by using corresponding chiral bromosubstituted hydrobenzoin derivatives in two steps with moderate yields. The last step for desired bisphosphines defined the electronic and steric properties of the chelating atoms by the treatment of aryl or alkyl substituted chlorophosphine compounds in the presence of a base. These synthesized ligands have been evaluated in different catalytic reactions. The first application has been the palladiumcatalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation which is regarded as a remarkable reaction for forming enantioselective carbon-carbon bond (up to 63 % ee and 98 % chemical yield). The ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective transfer hydrogenation reaction has been the second application for the evaluating of the catalysts (up to > 99 % conversion with no enantioselectivity).