AbstractTwo onium ion‐tagged prolines, imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide‐substituted proline 6 and butyldimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide‐substituted proline 7, were synthesised and their catalytic activity in the direct asymmetric aldol condensation was studied in ionic liquids. For the reaction of acetone with various aldehydes, using 5 % of the catalyst, the yields of the aldols varied between 50–85 % while the ee values were in the 80–85 % range. Other ketones were studied too, the yields obtained in those cases being in the 35–78 % range while the enantioselectivities varied between 75–94 %.