In this work we present the spectroscopic characterization of 2,2-dihydroxypropanoic acid and its water complexes. Based on this information the water-mediated hydration between pyruvic acid and its geminal diol counterpart, 2,2-dihydroxypropanoic acid, was investigated at very low water concentration at ambient temperatures, using Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). We experimentally observed large concentrations of 2,2-dihydroxypropanoic acid in this water-restricted environment of the carbon tetrachloride matrix. Our observation can be explained by the role of hydrogen-bonded water clusters in promoting the hydration of the carbonyl in pyruvic acid. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.