The efficient catalytic systems generated in situ from RuCl2(PPh3)3 and chiral ligands N,N-bis[2-(di-otolylphosphino)-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.) under mild conditions. The chiral ruthenium(Ⅱ) complex (R.,R)-3 has been prepared and characterized by NMR and X-ray crystallography.