Aqueous and biphasic nitrile hydration catalyzed by a recyclable Ru(II) complex under atmospheric conditions

[RuCl2(PTA)4] (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) was found to be a highly active catalyst for aqueous phase nitrile hydration at 100 °C in air. Near quantitative conversion of aromatic, alkyl, and vinyl nitriles to their corresponding amides was observed. The reaction tolerated ether, hydroxyl, nitro, bromo, formyl, pyridyl, benzyl, alkyl, and olefinic functional groups. Some amides were isolated by simple decantation from the aqueous phase catalyst. Catalyst loading down to 0.001 mol% was examined with turnover numbers as high as 22000 observed. The catalyst was stable for weeks in solution and could be reused more than five times without significant loss of activity.

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