Autoclave assisted, RUCY-XylBINAP catalyzed enantioselective conversion of pro-chiral biaryl ketones, 12 to chiral benzhydrols, 13 a-a1 (biphenyl methanol) through asymmetric hydrogenation with great enantiomeric excess (>99%) is reported. The Sodium borohydride (SBH) reduction of, 12 to racemic benzhydrols, 13 b-h have also been presented. The compounds structures were affirmed by their spectral studies (1H, 13C and mass) and chiral purity was analyzed by utilizing SFC (Supercritical fluid chromatography) technique. © 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim