A two step procedure for the synthesis of chiral tetradentate sulfonamide ligands is reported. The ligands are easily prepared from the corresponding bissulfonamide complexes by directed metallation followed by quenching with either ketones or carbon dioxide in 47 to 82% yield. Preliminary results indicate that these complexes are efficient catalysts in the asymmetric addition of alkyl groups to aldehydes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.