D-tert-Butyl tartrate is a chiral ester derivative of D-tartaric acid. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid or low-melting solid, characterized by the presence of two chiral centers and two tert-butyl ester groups. This compound is a valuable chiral building block and auxiliary in organic synthesis. Its primary application lies in asymmetric synthesis, where it serves as a chiral ligand or a precursor for chiral ligands and catalysts. For instance, it is a key intermediate in the preparation of the widely used Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) ligands, such as (DHQD)2PHAL and (DHQ)2PHAL. These ligands are crucial for the enantioselective conversion of olefins to vicinal diols. The tert-butyl groups provide steric bulk and influence the solubility and reactivity of the derived catalysts. Beyond its role in ligand synthesis, D-tert-butyl tartrate is also employed as a chiral resolving agent and as a starting material for other fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals that require a tartaric acid backbone with enhanced lipophilicity.