Self-assembled bidentate ligands for ruthenium-catalyzed hydration of nitriles

Novel bis(acetylacetonato)ruthenium(II) complexes bearing the 6-diphenylphosphino-N-pivaloyl-2-aminopyridine and 3-diphenylphosphinoisoquinolone ligands were synthesized. Molecular structures of these complexes were studied in solution and also in the solid state, and unusual hydrogen-bonding patterns were identified. The prepared compounds constitute active catalysts for the hydration of nitriles to amides under neutral conditions.