Experimental and theoretical treatment of hydrogen splitting and storage in boron–nitrogen systems

Hydrogen gas serves as a reducing agent and hydrogen atom source in numerous industrially important chemical processes and also has a great potential as a clean power source for fuel cells. In this respect, the reversible storage of hydrogen and the development of new metal-free hydrogenation catalysts are important tasks. Here, we review the recent literature, primarily on cases where the split H2 forms an N–H⋯H–B dihydrogen bond. In these systems dihydrogen interaction was found to be the key actor in the hydrogen liberating process. Accordingly, the intramolecular ansa-aminoboranes (where B and N atoms are situated within each other’s range) can reversibly activate hydrogen. Moreover, the theoretical studies of the hydrogen splitting by bulky Lewis acid–Lewis base systems are discussed.

Graphical abstractIntramolecular boron–nitrogen systems, where the active centers are located close to each other, act like molecular tweezers and are able to reversibly activate hydrogen. The recent experimental and theoretical studies concerning the heterolytic hydrogen splitting and liberation by aminoboranes are presented.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide