Facile and new convenient route for synthesis of some C2-symmetric bidentate phosphine ligands derived from d-mannitol

The preparation of two novel C2 symmetric bidentate phosphine ligands derived from cheap and available D-mannitol has been reported. These new ligands accompanied by unprecedented one-pot reaction for the regioselective reductive opening of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-D-mannitol have been achieved. All reported compounds are fully characterized by standard analytical methods including the measurement of optical activities.