Keywords: Carbohydrates / Hydrogenation / N ligands / Asymmetric catalysis / RutheniumCarbohydrate ligands have been studied in transition-metalcatalyzed hydrogenations in recent decades. Herein, we report the diastereoselective synthesis of trans-dichlorido(bisphosphane)ruthenium(II) complexes with four different methyl 2,3-diamino-4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-α-D-[a] Institute 2858 hexopyranosides and their application as catalyst precursors in asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. Depending on the hexopyranose, an enantiomeric excess of up to 78 % was obtained.Scheme 1. Synthesis of 5-13. [9,10a] Eur.