Transition metal catalysed dehydrogenation of amine-borane fuel blends

Chem Commun (Camb). 2011 Mar 14;47(10):2922-4. doi: 10.1039/c0cc03585h. Epub 2011 Jan 24.

Abstract

Mixtures containing ammonia-borane and sec-butylamine-borane remain liquid throughout the hydrogen release process that affords tri(N-sec-butyl)borazine and polyborazylene. Concentrated solutions with metal catalysts afford >5 wt% H(2) in 1 h at 80 °C and addition of (EMIM)EtSO(4) ionic liquid co-solvent eliminates competing formation of insoluble linear poly(aminoborane) (EMIM = 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium).