A pentafluorophenyl group embedded in a chiral diamine allows the direct modification of an aryl group. The diamine is readily converted into para-disubstituted diamines. Although the electronic effect of the modified diamine somewhat lowers the catalytic activity of BINAP–Ru–diamine-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation, the enantioselectivity of the product is higher than that obtained by using a typical chiral diamine. Such an easy and direct modification of the chiral ligand has the potential to facilitate the optimization of the steric effect of chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis.