Stereochemistry is a key component in the field of asymmetric catalysis. The properties of a molecule can be drastically changed with the change of one stereocenter. Typically, chirality is imparted to a metal by the ligand. Chiral-at-metal compounds are unique because the metal complex is chiral, but the ligands are not. Phosphine ligands are notoriously difficult to work with (pyrophoric, toxic, prone to oxidation). The goal of this research was to prepare unsymmetrical bidentate ligands using secondary phosphine oxides, which are air-stable and easy to handle on the benchtop
