Asymmetric hydrogenations of a series of β-amino ketones were carried out with a bimetallic complex (RuPHOX-Ru) as the chiral catalyst. Almost all the reactions (performed in a mixed solvent system of toluene and H2O in the presence of KOH) gave quantitative conversions into their respective products with up to 99.9% ee. The RuPHOX-Ru catalyst is stable to both moisture and air. The procedure has the benefits of being inexpensive, environmentally ...