Dramatic rate acceleration by a diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine ligand in the hydration of nitriles catalyzed by Ru(acac)2 complexes

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 20900 (mol of amide)/((mol of catalyst) h).