A number of chiral C-1-symmetric 1,10-phenanthrolines derived from naturally occurring ketones were assessed in the enantioselective palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethylmalonate. Enantioselectivity up to 96% was obtained with a new 1,10-phenanthroline derived from 5 alpha-cholestan-4-one. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.