The synthesis of 2'-t-butylbiphenyl-2-carboxylic acid, 2', 6-di-t-butylbiphenyl-3-carboxylic acid and of 6, 6'-di-t-bu tylbiphenyl-3, 3'-dicarboxylic acid is described. The strychnine and the brucine salts of the mono-t-butylbiphenyl acid undergo second-order asymmetric