The ligand (6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diyl)bis[3,5-di(tert-butyl)phenylphosphine] (1) forms an unexpectedly stable hydrido-bis-solvento complex of composition [RuH(isopropanol)(2)(I)]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 solvento complex, and provides a structural link in the enantioselective pyrone hydrogenation cycle catalyzed by [Ru(OAc)(2)(1)]. Using the arene complex [RuH(p-cymene)(1)]BF4 (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-C-ipso bonds at room temperature.