The first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral anilides has been carried out under palladium-catalyzed allylation reaction conditions with chiral phosphine ligands. Allylation of anilides bearing an ortho tert-butyl group with a palladium catalyst and (S)-BINAP as a chiral ligand gave axially chiral anilides in about 50% ee. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.