The reaction of benzene-1,2-diol with various propargylic carbonates in the presence of a palladium catalyst and various chiral ligands afforded the corresponding 2-alkylidene-3-alkyl-2,3-dihydrobenzodioxins in quite good yields and enantioselectivities of up to 97%. The highest enantiomeric excesses were obtained using atropoisomeric diphosphanes as the chiral ligands; when Diop, BDPP and other ligands gave quite low enantioselectivities.