Expanding the family of phospholane-based ligands: 1,2-bis(2,5-diphenylphospholano)ethane.

[reaction: see text] 1,2-Bis(2,5-diphenylphospholano)ethane (Ph-BPE) has been synthesized for the first time through employment of an undemanding synthetic pathway. The new ligand exhibits enhanced activity and selectivity over the existing members of the BPE ligand family in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.