Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemistry, 2005.Includes bibliographical references.The asymmetric biaryl backbone of a dialkylbiphenyl phosphine ligand was developed, synthesized, and resolved. The application of the chiral phosphine ligand to the asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was also investigated. This phosphine ligand has yielded promising results in the asymmetric Suzuki-coupling of hindered boronic acids with the electron-rich aryl bromide, 1-bromo-2- methoxynaphthalene, to synthesize biaryls in modest enantioselectivity.by Satoko Hirai.S.M
