Homochiral pyridyl, bipyridyl and phosphino derivatives of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane were prepared from L-(+)-tartrate. These compounds were assessed in metal catalyzed asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde, hydroformylation of styrene, hydrocarboethoxylation of styrene and allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd