ligands were designed and synthesized. The rhodium complexes with the ligands were applied to the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of broad range of long-chained aliphatic ketoesters in neatwater. Quantitative conversion and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) was observed for α-, β-, γ-, δ- and ε-ketoesters as well as for α- and β-acyloxyketone using chiral surfactant-type catalyst 2. The CH/π