BINOL-based diphosphonites as ligands in the asymmetric Rh-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids.

[reaction: see text] BINOL-based diphosphonites having achiral backbones are useful ligands in the Rh-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The nature of the achiral backbone determines the direction and degree of enantioselectivity, with er values of up to 99.5:0.5 possible.