Abstract A new, optically active, atropisomeric diphosphane ligand,(2, 3, 2′, 3′-tetrahydro- 5, 5′-bi (1, 4-benzodioxin)-6, 6′-diyl) bis-(diphenylphosphane)(SYNPHOS®), has been synthesized, characterized, and used in ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations. This new ligand has been compared with other atropisomeric diphosphanes (BINAP and MeO-BIPHEP) with respect to their dihedral angles calculated by molecular modeling and ...