Ethene hydroformylation with CO/H2O: nucleophilic attack by water on to a terminal CO of a Ru(II) acylcarbonyl complex

The reaction with water of acyldicarbonyl–Ru(II) complexes relevant to ruthenium catalysed ethene hydrocarbonylation with CO/H2O is shown to consist of a nucleophilic attack and to proceed via coordination of propionate and CO to the Ru(II) species.