Ruthenium complexes bearing ligands self-assembled through complementary hydrogen bonding were synthesized and used as catalysts for the hydration of nitriles.
Novel bis(acetylacetonato)ruthenium(II) complexesbearing the 6-diphenylphosphino-N-pivaloyl-2-aminopyridineand 3-diphenylphosphinoisoquinolone ligands were synthesized.Molecular structures of these complexes were studied in solutionand also in the solid state, and unusual hydrogen-bondingpatterns were identified. The prepared compounds constituteactive catalysts for the hydration of nitriles to amides underneutral conditions.