| abstract |
A chiral phosphorus-based ligand, in single enantiomer form, which is capable of complexing a transition metal atom and of acting as a ligand in asymmetric chemical catalysts, which comprises the partial structure (I): R1R2P-O-C-X-Y-C-O-PR1R2 wherein each of X and Y is C or a heteroatom; the C-X-Y-C chain forms part of a linearly-fused bicyclic structure; and either R?1 and R2¿ are each independently H or an organic group of up to 20 carbon atoms, including alkyl, fluoroalkyl, aryl, alkylarly, alkoxy, aryloxy and alkylaryloxy, or PR1R2 is cyclic such that R?1 and R2¿ are covalently linked, optionally with additional substituents. |