Abstract The synthesis of homochiral pyridyl alcohols (1, 2, 3a-c) and a catalytic asymmetric addition of dialkylzinc to various aldehydes using 1-3 as ligands are described. Although the reaction of benzaldehyde with Et 2 Zn in the presence of (S)-1 and (R, R)-2 gave (S)-and (R)- 1-phenyl-1-propanol, respectively, in moderate enantiomeric excess (ee), tridentate ligands (3a-c) accelerated the reaction to produce the corresponding alcohols in high ee ...