The ligand (6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diyl)bis[3,5-di(~er1-butyl)phenylphosphine] (1) forms an unexpectedly stable hydrido-bis-solvent0 complex of composition [RuH(isopropanol),(l)]BF4, (2) under the conditions used in the enantioselective hydrogenation of pyrones. The structure of 2, determined by X-ray diffraction, represents the first well-characterized chiral five-coordinate bis-phosphine ruthenium-hydride complex stable as a solvent0 complex, and provides a structural link in the enantioselective pyrone hydrogenation cycle catalyzed by [Ru(OAc),(l)]. Using the arene complex [RuH(y-cymene)(l)]BF, (3), the chiral pocket of coordinated 1 is shown to be relatively rigid, via NMR spectroscopy. This is reflected in restricted rotation about one of the four P-[3,5-di(tert-butyl)phenyl] P-Cinso bonds at room temperature.Introduction. -Enantioselective homogeneous hydrogenation using Ru" is now a well established tool [ 1 4 1 with successful catalysts often containing chiral bidentate phosphine ligands such as binap [5] [6] or biphep [l]. Although both chloride and acetate precursors are readily available, little is known with respect to the hydride complexes which are generated during the hydrogenation, in situ. It is generally assumed that the hydrogen activation is heterolytic [6] (171, and that many of the intermediates are six-coordinate [5-71.