On coordination to Ru(terpy)(bipy)(2+) (terpy = 2,2': 6',2 ''-terpyridine, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), acetonitrile is converted to acetamide in aqueous basic solution, through hydroxide attack with a catalytic factor of ca 3 x 10(3) (k(OH) = 4.6 X 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1)). This is a remarkable effect for a d(6) transition metal in the (II) oxidation state, and can be ascribed to pi backbonding from the metal to the polypyridyl ligands, which makes the ruthenium(II) centre more electropositive than ruthenium(II) in the Ru(NH3)(5)(2+) moiety. The final hydrolysis product is the [Ru(terpy)(bipy)(OH)](+) complex, since amides, being poor pi-acceptor ligands, are rapidly released from the coordination sphere of ruthenium(II). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.