Due to the """"""""handedness"""""""" of the molecules of life (peptides, DNA/RNA, carbohydrates, etc.), enantiomeric compounds often display quite different biological activity. As a result, there is a need for the development of efficient methods for enantioselective organic synthesis. Transition metals catalyze a tremendous array of transformations, many of which cannot readily be accomplished by other types of catalysts. This research program focuses on the development of chiral ligands for transition metal-catalyzed processes. The investigation is comprised of two parts: ? ? the synthesis of new families of ligands based on planar-chiral heterocycles. ? ? the application of these new ligands to the development of highly enantioselective transition metal-catalyzed reactions. ? ?
