New chiral C-2-symmetric bis(oxazolinylpyridinyl)dioxolane ligands were prepared and assessed in the enantioselective palladium catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. Enantioselectivities up to >98% were obtained. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.