The present invention provides a chiral ligand, represented by a formula or its enantiomer: X and X′ can be independently O, NH, NR, NCOR or S; each of Z1-Z7 and Z1′-Z7′ can be independently H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, nitro, amide, aryoxide, halide, hydroxyl, carboxylate, hetereoaryl, or a cyclic alkene, fused aryl, or cyclic ether group formed from any two adjacent Z groups or any two adjacent Z′ groups; Y and Y′ can be independently OH, OR, NH2, NHR, NR2, SH, PR2, OPR2, NHPR2, OP(OR)2, COOH, COOR, CONHR, or a linking group formed from Y and Y′ groups together. Processes of preparing these ligands, catalysts that employ them and methods of using the catalysts are also provided.