Highly Reactive Bifunctional Chemical Catalysts for the Hydration of Nitriles

New bifunctional chemical catalysts for the hydration of nitriles are described. cis-Ru(acac)2(PPh2py)2 exhibited high activity, with a turnover frequency of up to 20,900 (mol of amide)/((mol of catalyst)h). Newly synthesized iridium complexes bearing a PPh2py ligand have a 16e- square planar structure. The catalytic hydration of nitriles proceeded at 80 °C within few hours to give corresponding amides in almost quantitative yield. Moreover, the...