LIGANDS

A substituted paracyclophane is described of formula (I) wherein Xl and X2 are linking groups comprising between 2 to 4 carbon atoms, Y1 and Y2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halide, oxygen, nitrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl , aryl or heteroaryl, Z1, Z2 and Z3 are substituting groups that optionally contain functional groups, a, b, c, d, e and f are 0 or l and a + b + c + d + e + f = 1 to 6. PreferablyX1 and X2 are -(C2H4)- and a + b + c + d + e + f = 1 or 2. The substituted paracyclophane provides transition metal catalysts that demonstrate high activity and selectivity for asymmetric reactions.