A novel C-2-symmetric chiral bisphosphinite ligand, 3R,3'R-bis(diphenylphos
phinoxy)-6,6,6',6'-tetramethyl-2S,2'S-di-4H-pyran, was synthesized from D-m
annitol and examined for palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitutio
n. Under the optimized conditions, the allylation product can be obtained i
n up to 91.2% ee. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.