Iridium-catalyzed dehydrogenation of substituted amine boranes: kinetics, thermodynamics, and implications for hydrogen storage.

Dehydrogenation of amine boranes is catalyzed efficiently by the iridium pincer complex (kappa (3)-1,3-(OP ( t )Bu 2) 2C 6H 3)Ir(H) 2 ( 1). With CH 3NH 2BH 3 (MeAB) and with AB/MeAB mixtures (AB = NH 3BH 3), the rapid release of 1 equiv of H 2 is observed to yield soluble oligomeric products at rates similar to those previously reported for the dehydrogenation of AB catalyzed by 1. Delta H for the dehydrogenation of AB, MeAB, and AB/MeAB mixtures has been determined by calorimetry.

Cd(II), Zn(II), and Pd(II) complexes of an isoindoline pincer ligand: consequences of steric crowding.

The sterically crowded isoindoline pincer ligand, 6'-MeLH, prepared by condensation of 4-methyl-2-aminopyridine and phthalonitrile, exhibits very different reaction chemistry with Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pd2+. Three different ligand coordination modes are reported, each dependent upon choice of metal ion. This isoindoline binds to Cd2+ as a charge-neutral, zwitterionic, bidentate ligand using imine and pyridine nitrogen atoms to form the eight-coordinate fluxional complex, Cd(6'-MeLH)2(NO3)2.