The cobalt–salen complex (C1:[(salen)Co³⁺(OAc)]; salen= N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine, OAc=acetate) was found to efficiently promote the hydration of terminal alkynes to give methyl ketones in the presence of the H₂SO₄ cocatalyst. In addition, the one-pot transformation of alkynes into chiral alcohols through tandem catalysis by catalyst C1 coupled with a ruthenium–TsDPEN complex (C3: [(R,R-TsDPEN)Ru²⁺(cymene)]; TsDPEN=(1R,2R)-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, cymene=1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)benzene) catalyst was realized with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.