Thanks to scientists in Switzerland, olefins can be hydrogenated without the need for an external source of hydrogen. The method developed by chemists at the University of Zurich uses mild conditions and a short reaction time.

Hydrogen gas is an attractive clean energy source. However, its storage is difficult, particularly when used in fuel cells, for instance in conjunction with vehicular applications. Physical methods, like storage under pressure or in liquid form are economically not feasible. Jiang and Berke have developed a method whereby amine boranes were used as chemical hydrogen storage materials. However, before such chemical species can be used as potential hydrogen storage, efficient catalysis for hydrogen uptake and release has to be demonstrated. This work shows that the combination of dimethylamine-borane with a Re(I) complex allowed the transfer-hydrogenation of olefins to occur under mild conditions and a short reaction time.

For several years, Berke's group has been involved in transition metal hydride and hydrogen chemistry, in particular with respect to the development of the so-called ionic dehydrogenation. This is the process where a transition metal catalyst is required to split the hydrogen molecule into a hydride and a proton. The hydride becomes attached to the transition metal whereas the proton is mopped up by a base. Hydrogen storage using amine boranes is based on the hydrogen release and uptake processes that are dependent on ionic hydrogenation and ionic dehydrogenation. 'Research on respective chemical hydrogen storage is therefore a natural extension to our earlier work,' said Berke.

In the future, Berke hopes to develop an efficient non-noble metal catalyst for hydrogen release and uptake of promising storage materials. 'Another major challenge is the development of materials with high hydrogen storage capacities,' said Berke.

Kathleen Too