Chiral cyclohexyldiamine based Ru triphenylphosphine complex has been immobilized over mesoporous silica SBA- 15 and used in the chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral and alpha, beta -unsaturated ketones and imines to corresponding products. P-31 NMR, SEM, TEM, XRD, N-2 sorption measurements and FTIR analysis supported the retention of the complex over mesoporous silica. This catalyst was found to catalyze preferentially the hydrogenation of C=O over coexisting conjugated C=C linkages in the hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with high turnover frequencies (TOF = mole of substrate converted per mole of Ru complex per hour) and gave excellent enantioselectivities in the hydrogenation of prochiral ketones compared to its homogeneous analogue. It also showed good activity in the hydrogenation of less reactive imines to secondary amines. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.