A novel visible-light-responsive chiral ligand has been developed by grafting a triplet state photo sensitizer to chiral bisoxazoline ligands. Complexation of this ligand with Ni(acac)(2) results in a powerful catalyst for the asymmetric oxidation reaction of beta-ketoesters, which uses oxygen or air as the green oxidant and visible light or sunlight as the ideal driving force. Using this protocol, products containing the alpha-hydroxy-beta-dicarbonyl motif are produced in high yields and with excellent enantiopurities.