A new family of C-2-symmetric chiral diphosphites was synthesized using two different chiral backbones derived from tartaric acid, combined with chiral binaphthyls or non-chiral substituted biphenyl moieties. Diphosphites were applied to Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene producing good conversions in mild conditions, fair regioselectivities but low enantioselectivities in all cases. Ligands were also essayed in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions of linear and cyclic substrates using dimethyl malonate as nucleophile. Conversion rates up to 7200 h(-1) were reached, while moderated ee's were attained. In this reaction, a kinetic resolution of rac-1,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxyprop-1-ene was observed, leading to 99% ee of for the unreacted S-substrate and 60% ee of S-alkylated product. Coordination properties of diphosphites in rhodium and palladium complexes related to catalytic species involved in the two previous reactions were investigated. Some ligands form equatorial-equatorial chelates in pentacoordinated complexes [RhH(CO)(PPh3)(diphosphite)], while other act as bridge between two metal atoms. In the catalytic active species [Pd(eta(3)-PhCHCHCHPh)(diphosphite)]PF6 one or two diastereoisomers are formed, depending on the diphosphite structure. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.