Boranes ionic hydrogenation

Also possible is the solution phase catalysis of ammonia borane into hydrogen and the standard products [91]. As always, the function of the catalyst is to improve reaction kinetics and reduce reaction temperature, and also to promote formation of linear chain products over cyclic products. Organic solvents are somewhat problematic, as the exothermic decomposition leads to evaporation of the solvent and contamination of the H2 product. Using ionic liquids as solvents is a potential solution to this difficulty [92]. 

There are many neutral and ionic species composed of boron and hydrogen, far too many to describe in this text. For the purposes of illustrating parallels between these species and transition metal clusters, we will first consider of one category of boranes, closo (cagelike) boranes that have the formula B H . These boranes consist of closed polyhedra with n corners and all triangular faces (triangulated polyhedra). Each corner is occupied by a BH group. 

The hydrogen bond is a weaker bond between atoms than the covalent, ionic and metallic bonds. It occurs if a proton bridge can be formed between two atoms, e.g., in the interaction among water molecules in liquid water and ice and among many organic groups. Boranes are examples of molecules that have an intramolecular hydrogen bond. 

Bluhm, M. E. Bradley, M. G. Butterick, R. Kusari, U. Sneddon, L. G., Amineborane-based chemical hydrogen storage Enhanced ammonia borane dehydrogenation in ionic liquids, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 7748-7749. 

Bluhm ME et al (2006) Amineborane-based chemical hydrogen storage enhanced ammonia borane dehydrogenation in ionic liquids. J Am Chem Soc 128 7748-7749 Chandra M, Xu Q (2007) Room temperature hydrogen generation from aqueous ammonia borane using noble metal nanoclusters as highly active catalysts. J Power Sources... 

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