Asym. synthesis of an atropisomer of b,b'-bis(benzyloxy)-a,a'-binaphthalene (I) was achieved by a chiral phosphine-palladium complex catalyzed coupling reaction. The enantiomeric excess of the product ranged from 2.2 to 20.3%, depending on the phosphine ligands.

Key words: CATALYSIS, BENZYLOXY GROUP, NAPHTHALENE P, COUPLING REACTION, TRANSITION METAL COMPLEX, ARYL GROUP, PALLADIUM COMPLEX, GRIGNARD REAGENT