Reactions of lithium phosphides with the mesylate, or the cyclic sulfa
te, of (R,R)-2,4-pentanediol afford a general access to new chiral lig
ands based on the phosphetane moiety. Amongst others, the four membere
d ring analogue of Me-DuPHOS has been obtained by this method. (C) 199
7 Elsevier Science Ltd.