Chiral ligands are molecules that have a non-superimposable mirror image, meaning they exist in two forms that are like left and right hands. These ligands can bind to metal centers in coordination complexes, influencing the properties and reactivity of the resulting compounds. Their chirality is crucial in asymmetric synthesis, where the goal is to produce a specific enantiomer of a product. In catalysis, chiral ligands play a vital role in promoting reactions that favor one enantiomer over another. This selectivity is important in the pharmaceutical industry, where the effectiveness and safety of drugs can depend on their chirality. Examples of chiral ligands include binaphthyl and amino acids.