Abstract A new and efficient catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the potent cannabinoid receptor agonist (−)-CP-55940 has been developed by using ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α-aryl ketones via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) as a key step. With RuCl 2-SDPs/diamine [SDPs= 7, 7′-bis (diarylphophino)-1, 1′- spirobiindane] catalysts the asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α-arylcyclohexanones ...