Cooperative Catalysis of a Cationic Ruthenium Complex, Amine Base, and Na Salt:  Catalytic Activation of Acetonitrile as a Nucleophile

Cooperative catalysis of a cationic Ru complex, DBU, and NaPF6 is described. An exquisite combination of the catalytic triad enabled catalytic activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile under mild amine-basic conditions. Addition of in situ-generated, Ru-bound, metalated nitrile to aldehydes and imines proceeded smoothly with 2.5-5 mol % Ru complex and 2.5-10 mol % DBU in the presence of 10 mol % NaPF6. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested a role for each of the three catalytic components.