Binaphthyl is a chemical compound made up of two naphthalene units connected by a single bond. It is a type of biphenyl and is known for its chiral properties, meaning it can exist in two mirror-image forms. This characteristic makes binaphthyl important in the field of asymmetric synthesis, where it is used as a chiral ligand in various chemical reactions. The compound is often utilized in organic chemistry and materials science due to its unique structural features. Binaphthyl derivatives can exhibit interesting optical and electronic properties, making them valuable in the development of optical devices and pharmaceuticals.