Several mononuclear ruthenium(iv) complexes with phosphinous acid ligands [RuCl2(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)(PR2OH)] have been synthesized (78-86% yield) by treatment of the dimeric precursor [{RuCl(μ-Cl)(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)}2] (C10H16 = 2,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diene-1,8-diyl) with 2 equivalents of different aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic secondary phosphine oxides R2P([double bond, length as m-dash]O)H. The compounds [RuCl2(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)(PR2OH)] could also be prepared, in similar yields, by hydrolysis of the P-Cl bond in the corresponding chlorophosphine-Ru(iv) derivatives [RuCl2(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)(PR2Cl)]. In addition to NMR and IR data, the X-ray crystal structures of representative examples are discussed. Moreover, the catalytic behaviour of complexes [RuCl2(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)(PR2OH)] has been investigated for the selective hydration of organonitriles in water. The best results were achieved with the complex [RuCl2(η(3):η(3)-C10H16)(PMe2OH)], which proved to be active under mild conditions (60 °C), with low metal loadings (1 mol%), and showing good functional group tolerance.