Improved hydrogen generation from formic acid

The ruthenium-catalyzed generation of hydrogen from formic acid was investigated in the presence of amines and halide additives. While amidines and halide additives increase the production of hydrogen with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2, >330 mL hydrogen/h is generated in the presence of [RuCl2(benzene)]2/dppe and N,N-dimethyl-n-hexylamine.