Bidentate Oxazoline-Imine Ruthenium(II) Complexes: Intermediates in the Methanolysis/Hydration of Nitrile Groups

The reaction of [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2) with benzoxazoleacetonitriles and NH4+BF4- in methanol leads to bidentate N,N'-benzoxazole-methoxyimine-ruthenium(II) complexes 7, corresponding to the addition of methanol to the ruthenium(II)-activated nitrile triple bond. The X-ray structure of a complex 7 shows equivalent Ru-N and slightly different C=N bond distances. The catalytic hydration of benzoxazolacetonitriles with [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2) in methanol/water leads to quantitative formation of corresponding amides under mild conditions.