Phosphite-derivatized ruthenium-carbohydrate complexes in the catalytic hydration of nitriles

The synthesis of metal complexes with bioligands is one option to introduce chirally defined ligands to catalysts. Herein, file hydration of nitriles to the corresponding carboxamides by use of ruthenium(H) complexes is described, which were obtained by attaching derivatives of the 3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-alpha-D-glucofuranoside ligand.