Optically active propargylic alcohols serve as an important building block in asymmetric synthesis. The customised synthesis of chiral ligands and transition metal activators as catalysts, to effect asymmetric alkynylation reactions, continue to feature in the literature. This review article focuses upon the use of Zn(OTf) 2 , in conjunction with 2-point chiral ligands, for effecting asymmetric alkynylation reactions to aldehydes.