The enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of gamma-ketoesters was carried out over asymmetrically modified solid catalysts. The parameters affecting the enantiomer excess (ee) were investigated and the results were compared with those of the hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate and 2-octanone reported in the literature. The highest value of enantiomer excess of 51% was attained for the hydrogenation of methyl 4-oxopentanoate over a tartaric acid (TA)-NaBr-modified reduced nickel catalyst prepared from nickel oxide. The amount of NaBr in the modification solution needed to be optimized according to the manufacturers of the nickel oxides. The addition of an appropriate amount of carboxylic acid to the reaction media increased the enantiomer excess of the hydrogenated products. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.