2,3,4,5-Tetramethyl-2-cyclopentenone was used in the synthesis of chiral pre-ligands, (R)-3,3′-bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)-2,2′-bismethoxy-1,1′-bisnaphthalene and (R)-3-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl-2,2′-bismethoxy-1,1′-bisnaphthalene by reacting with (R)-3,3′-dilithium-2,2′-bismethoxy-1,1′-bisnaphthalene.