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A ruthenocenyl phosphino-oxazoline-ruthenium complex (RuPHOX−Ru) catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-aryl keto acids has been successfully developed, affording the corresponding chiral α-aryl α-hydroxy carboxylic acids in high yields and with up to 97% ee. The reaction could be performed on a gram scale with a relatively low catalyst loading (up to 5000 S/C) and the resulting products can be transformed to several chiral building blocks, biologically active compounds and chiral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]