Preparation, alcoholysis, and regeneration of ammonia-borane

FUEL 101

P. Veeraraghavan Ramachandran, Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, Herbert C. Brown Center for Borane Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2084
We have carried out a systematic examination of the synthesis of ammonia-borane from trimethylborate and also from alkali metal borohydrides. A study of the transition-metal catalyzed hydrolysis and alcoholysis of ammonia-borane under ambient conditions for hydrogen generation was also undertaken. An in situ preparation of ammonia-borane and alcoholysis has also been carried out. Successful isolation of boron intermediates from alcoholysis and the regeneration of ammonia-borane has also been achieved, thus establishing a complete ammonia-borane cycle. Details of all of these reactions will be discussed.