stereodefined, modular aminoalcohols (3-alkoxy-1-amino-1-phenyl-2-propanols), in which the steric bulk of the alkoxy and amino substituents varies smoothly, has been synthesized from enantiomerically pure phenylglycidol, prepared by Sharpless epoxidation. These aminoalcohols have been evaluated as ligands in the catalyzed [(aminoalcohol)(arene)RuII] transfer hydrogenation of alkyl aryl ketones,