The BINAP-Ru(II) catalyst (2,2’-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1’-binaphthyl)chloro(p-cymene)ruthenium chloride is found to be highly active and enantioselective for homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation of o-chloroacetophenone to optically pure o-chloro-(1-phenyl)ethanol. In contrast to results of Noyori and coworkers, no organic and inorganic bases are required to obtain high activities and enantioselectivities.