New chiral P,N-ligands derived from substituted pyridine and (S)-2,2'-binaphthol phosphorochloridite have been prepared and tested in asymmetric palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations. The enantioselectivity was poorly dependent on the pyridine substituent, instead, a chelate ring size effect was apparent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.