The copper-catalyzed enantioselective monoarylation of meso-1,2-diols by the use of diaryliodonium triflates as aryl sources has been developed. The chiral copper(II) complex catalyzed the asymmetric desymmetrization effectively to afford optically active beta-aryloxy alcohols in moderate to high chemical yields and enantioselectivity. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.