Borane and alane mediated hydrogen release from silane and methylsilane

- Hydrogen release from SiH4 and CH3SiH3 in presence of BH3/AlH3 is a facile process.
- Reactions of silanes with BH3 are more favorable than those with AlH3.
- Addition of an extra BH3 yields low energy barriers for dehydrogenation pathways.
- Additional BH3 Lewis acid plays the role of a bi-functional catalyst.
- Silanes can be used as starting materials for chemical hydrogen storage.