Tridentate N,N,N-pyridinebisimidazolines have been studied as new ligands for the enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of prochiral ketones. High yields and excellent enantioselectivity up to > 99 % ee have been achieved with an in situ generated catalytic system containing dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium and 2,6-bis-([4R,5R]-4,5diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1 H-imidazol-2-yl)-pyridine (3a) in the presence of sodium isopropoxide.