One of the main aims of modern organic synthesis is the preparation of the compounds in optically pure form. Reactions catalyzed by transition metals with chiral ligands are widely used in the stereocontrolled syntheses. Chiral diphosphine ligands belong to one of the most important class of ligands employed for the transition metal catalysis. It is important to search for the new structures of this class, as well as new methods for their synthesis.

Herein, we present the synthesis of the new rigid bicyclic chiral diphosphines derived from β-pinene and α-pinene. Diphosphines were prepared in optically pure form and they were applied as ligands in transition metal catalyzed enantioselective reactions.

Acknowledgments 

We wish to thank the financial support received from National Science Centre Preludium 4 No. 2012/07/N/ST5/02194.