Dramatic Rate Acceleration by a Diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine Ligand in the Hydration of Nitriles Catalyzed by Ru(acac)₂ Complexes

Abstract

New ruthenium(II) complexes having acac (=acetylacetonato) and diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine as ligands proved to be excellent catalysts for hydration of nitriles to amides under neutral conditions. Among the ruthenium complexes examined, cis -Ru(acac) 2 (PPh 2 py) 2 exhibited the highest activity, with a turnover frequency of up to 20 900 (mol of amide)/((mol of catalyst) h).