Chiraphos is a chiral diphosphine employed as a ligand in organometallic chemistry. This bidentate ligand chelates metals via the two phosphine groups. Its name is derived from its description - being both chiral and a phosphine. As a C2-symmetric ligand, chiraphos is available in two enantiomeric forms, S,S and R,R, each with C2 symmetry.
Chiraphos is prepared from S,S or R,R-2,3-butanediol, which are derived from commercially available S,S or R,R-tartaric acid; the technique of using cheaply available enantiopure starting materials is known as chiral pool synthesis. The diol is tosylated and then the ditosylate is treated with lithium diphenylphosphide.[1] The ligand was an important demonstration of how the conformation of the chelate ring can affect asymmetric induction by a metal catalyst. Prior to this work, in most chiral phosphines, e.g., DIPAMP, phosphorus was the stereogenic center.