The asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with alkyl diazoacetate was performed with a series of Cu(II) complexes of novel chiral ligands, which were derived from substitution of 1,3-dibromopropane, 1,2-dibromoethane, alpha,alpha'-dibromo-m-xylene and 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine with 1R, 2S-(-)-ephedrine. These prepared catalysts shown to be highly active in the enantioselective cyclopropanation with ee higher than 89% under the optimal conditions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.