We herein report the development of a sterically hindered and electron-rich P-chiral monophosphorus biaryl ligand that has enabled a general and efficient enantioselective intramolecular α-arylation, providing access to a wide series of [4.4], [4.5], and [4.6]-spirocycles with chiral benzylic quaternary carbons in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. A pronounced water effect on enantioselectivity is observed.

A powerful palladium‐catalyzed dearomative cyclization was developed that provides facile access to eight types of bridged tetracyclic skeletons bearing various ring sizes and heterocycles. With this method, several skeletons or analogues of natural products, including tubingensin B and dracaenones, were synthesized. Asymmetric dearomative cyclization enables the construction of various enantiomerically enriched bridged polycyclic systems with up to 99 % ee by employing a chiral palladium catalyst.

Aryl-secondary alkyl cross-coupling with aryl sulfonate esters as coupling partners remains a significant challenge. Efficient cross-coupling between aryl/alkenyl triflates and acyclic secondary alkylboronic acids is realized for the first time to provide a series of sterically congested acyclic secondary alkyl arenes/olefins in good to excellent yields. The employment of sterically bulky P,P[double bond, length as m-dash]O ligand L1/L2 is crucial for the high yields and selectivities. The method has enabled a concise and 4-step synthesis of a key intermediate of male contraceptive agent and PAF antagonist gossypol.