Asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral biaryl diphosphine ligands by rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular double [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition.

The concise synthesis of axially chiral biaryl diphosphine ligands by the rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of hexayne diphosphine oxides has been achieved. These new chiral diphosphine ligands could be employed as a ligand for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric catalyses.