The efficient catalytic systems generated in situ from RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3) and chiral ligands N,N-bis[2-(di-o-tolylphosphino)-benzyl]cyclohexane-1,2-diamine(2) were employed for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones, giving the corresponding optically active alcohols with high activities(up to 99% conversion) and excellent enantioselectivities(up to 96% e.e.) undcr mild conditions. The chiral ruthenium(II) complex (R,R)-3 has been prepared and characterized by NMR and X-ray crystallography.National Natural Science Foundation of China[20423002, 20703034]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China[2008J0235]; Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province of China[0991016