Unmasking the Action of Phosphinous Acid Ligands in Nitrile Hydration Reactions Catalyzed by Arene–Ruthenium(II) Complexes

The catalytic hydration of benzonitrile and acetonitrile has been studied by employing different arene–ruthenium(II) complexes with phosphinous (PR₂OH) and phosphorous acid (P(OR)₂OH) ligands as catalysts. Marked differences in activity were found, depending on the nature of both the P‐donor and η⁶‐coordinated arene ligand. Faster transformations were always observed with the phosphinous acids. DFT computations unveiled the intriguing mechanism of acetonitrile hydration catalyzed by these arene–ruthenium(II) complexes. The process starts with attack on the nitrile carbon atom of the hydroxyl group of the P‐donor ligand instead of on a solvent water molecule, as previously suggested. The experimental results presented herein for acetonitrile and benzonitrile hydration catalyzed by different arene–ruthenium(II) complexes could be rationalized in terms of such a mechanism.