A sensor for the in situ determination of acidity levels in concentrated sulfuric acid

A potentiometric method at imposed weak current between two paste electrodes, ferrocene and chloranil, permits the in situ determination of sulfuric acid concentrations (0.5–11.0 M). The different factors affecting the potential at imposed current as current intensity, temperature and H⁺ ion concentration are studied. The potentials measured between ferrocene and chloranil electrodes are directly linked to the acid concentration. The acidity R_i(H) function, which represents the determination of the H⁺ activity has been determined and compared to Strehlow R_o(H), Janata H_GF and Hammet H_o functions. R_i(H) is numerically equal to the thermodynamic R_o(H). Received: 19 October 1998 / Revised: 22 March 1999 / Accepted: 23 March 1999     

Effect of acidity level Ro(H) on the corrosion of steel in concentrated HCL solutions

The corrosion of a carbon steel in (0.5 – 9.0 M) HCl media using weight loss, electrochemical polarization and polarization resistance measurements was investigated. The corrosion data are discussed as function of the Strehlow acidity function R_o(H) which is the extension of pH in concentrated solutions. Weight loss, corrosion current densities and resistance polarization values show a linear behaviour with the R_o(H) acidity function. The corrosion potential-R_o(H) plot is also linear using the ferricinium (Fc⁺) / ferrocene (Fc) reference electrode in concentrated acid solutions.     

Water-Phosphoric Acid Media: Electrochemical Properties

Abstract

Electroactivity ranges at polished Platinum, vitreous Carbon, and Mercury electrodes are determined in H₂O - H₃PO₄ mixtures (0.1 -14 M H₃PO₄). The Ferrocene system is considered as a comparison system. Ag⁺/Ag_s and AgCl/Ag_s systems are considered as reference systems. The R_o(H) acidity function is determined. It varies from -2.0 to -6.0 when H₃PO₄ varies from 5.5 to 11.5 M.     

pH determination in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and superacid media by means of the chloranil electro-chemical indicator system

The electro chemical systems of chloranil (quinone/semiquinone and semiquinone/hydroquinone) are shown to be usable as pH indicators in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and in the superacid mixtures HF + MF_n (where MF_n = PF₅, BF₃, TaF₅, NbF₅, AsF₅ and SbF₅). The combined use of both hydrogen and chloranil electrodes has allowed the establishment of a complete potential-pH diagram of chloranil in the whole acidity range of HF. The quinone/semiquinone system can be used at very high acidity levels (solutions of AsF₅ or SbF₅) where the hydrogen electrode does not function correctly. A new value of the autoprotolysis constant of HF is reported (K_i = [H⁺. [F^-] = 10^-13.7 mol² l^-2) and compared with earlier values. The equilibrium constants of acid-base systems of the quinone (Q/QH⁺) and hydroquinone (QH₂/QH₃⁺ and QH²⁺₄) forms of chloranil, and the disproportionation constant of the semiquinone (QH₂⁺ form are also reported. The indicator system allows the acidity levels reached in HF to be placed on an R(H) scale (where R(H) = 0 corresponds to pH = 0 in aqueous solution). These levels were found to lie between R(H) = -14.2 for 1 M KF solution and R(H) = -27.9 for 1 M SbF₅ (i.e. 18% by weight).     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of acetylides on substituted tricarbonyl(η6-fluoroarene)chromium and reactions of tricarbonyl[η6-(2-trimethylsilylethynyl)toluene]chromium and tricarbonyl[η6-(p-ethynyl-phenylethynyl)benzene]chromium with dicobalt octacarbonyl

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of various acetylides on substituted tricarbonyl(η⁶-fluoroarene)chromiums were pursued. The reaction presumably underwent a more complicated mechanism rather than the direct substitution on the fluorine-bearing carbon. The organometallic compounds (η⁶-C₆H₃R¹R²R³)Cr(CO)₃ (R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: o-Me, R³: H (5a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: o-OMe, R³: H (6a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: m-OMe, R³: H (6b), R¹: CCPh, R²: o-Me, R³: o-OMe (8b), R¹: CCPh, R²: m-Me, R³: m-OMe (8c), R¹: CCSiMe₃, R²: o-Me, R³: H (9a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CCH, R²: H, R³: H (12), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CCH, R²: o-Me, R³: H (13)) as well as the organometallic dimmer [{(η⁶-o-Me-C₆H₄)Cr(CO)₃(di-ethynyl)] (di-ethynyl: CC–C₆H₄CC (14)) have been synthesized from nucleophilic substitution reactions of tricarbonyl(η⁶-fluoroarene)(chromium) compounds with suitable acetylides. The products have been characterized by spectroscopic means. In addition, (8b) and (8c) were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. Further reactions of (9a) and (12) with appropriate amount of Co₂(CO)₈ yielded μ-alkyne bridged bimetallic complexes, Co₂(CO)₆{μ-Me₃SiCC–(o-tolueneCr(CO)₃} (10) and (Co₂(CO)₆)₂{μ-HCC–C₆H₄–CC–(benzene)Cr(CO)₃)}(15), respectively. Both (10) and (15) were characterized by spectroscopic means as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The core of these molecules is quasi-tetrahedron containing a Co₂C₂ unit. A two-dicobalt-fragments coordinated di-enyls complex, (Co₂(CO)₆)₂{μ-HCC–C₆H₄–CC–H} (17), was synthesized from the reaction of 1,3-diethynylbenzene with Co₂(CO)₈. Crystallographic studies of (17) also show that it exhibits a distorted Co₂C₂ quasi-tetrahedral geometry.     

Titanium(IV) complexes containing mono‐cyclopentadienyl and bulky trityloxy mixed ligands: synthesis and polymerization activity

Eight new R¹CpTiCl₂(OC(C₆H₄R²)Ph₂) complexes were synthesized by the reaction of R¹CpTiCl₃ with Ph₂(R²C₆H₄)COH (R²C₆H₄ = phenyl or o‐methyl‐phenyl) in the presence of Et₃N in good yield and characterized by ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, IR and mass spectrometry. A suitable single crystal of complex 2 (R¹: CH₃, R²: H) was obtained and the structure determined by X‐ray diffraction. When activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO), all complexes were active for the polymerization of ethylene and styrene. The effect of variation in temperature, catalyst concentration and MAO/catalyst molar ratio was also studied. Complex 5 (R¹: n‐C₄H₉, R²: H) showed a moderate conversion (37.4%) for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of Acid-Base Equilibria in the Reduction of Selenious(IV) Acid

ABSTRACT

Electroanalytical methods have been widely used for determination of Se(IV), but the nature of the reduction processes involved is not well understood. Polarographic reduction occurs in three waves (i₁, i₂, and i₃) the height of which changes with pH. We proved that in wave i₁, H₃SeO₃ ⁺ is reduced, in i₂ H₂SeO₃, and in i₃ HSeO₃ ^-. SeO₃ ^2? is not reducible. All reductions involve a transfer of six electrons and yield selenides. Limiting currents are controlled by the rate of protonation. As proton donors, in addition to H₃O⁺, the acid forms of the buffer present also act. Limiting currents increase markedly with increasing concentration of the buffer. Tenfold increase in buffer concentration can result in up to 200% increase in limiting current.     

Solvent Effect on Deprotonation Equilibria of Acids of Various Charge Types in Non-aqueous Isodielectric Mixtures of Protic Ethylene Glycol and Dipolar Aprotic N,N-Dimethylformamide at 298.15 K

Deprotonation constants of phthalic (H₂A) and biphthalic (HA⁻) acids and of mono-protonated (BH⁺) and di-protonated (BH₂²⁺) piperazine acids have been determined at 25 °C by measuring the Emf of galvanic cells comprising H⁺-sensitive glass GE(H⁺) and Ag,AgCl electrodes in non-aqueous isodielectric mixtures of protic ethylene glycol (EG) and dipolar aprotic N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Solvent effects on deprotonation of the acids: ∂(ΔG _diss^o)=2.303RT[p(_s K _a)−p(_R K _a)], have been dissected into transfer Gibbs energies, ΔG _t^o _, of the species involved by evaluating ΔG _t^o of the uncharged phthalic acid and base piperazine (B) from the measured solubilities of the acid and base, respectively, and using ΔG _t^o of H⁺ based on the TATB reference electrolyte assumptions, as evaluated earlier. The contributions of the different species involved in the protolytic equilibria i.e., H⁺,H₂A,HA⁻,BH₂²⁺ and BH⁺ and their respective conjugate bases HA⁻,A²⁻,BH⁺ and B have been discussed in terms of their solvation behavior as guided by the ‘acid-base’, dispersion, structural and electronic characteristics of the acid-base species and of the co-solvent molecules and binary mixtures, ignoring the Born-type electrostatic interactions on the ionic species as the solvent system is quasi isodielectric.     

Determination of enthalpies of formation of organic free radicals from bond dissociation energies 1. Hydrocarbon radicals

The enthalpies of formation (ΔH _f ^o) for 24 hydrocarbon radicals (R^?), mainly polycyclic aromatic radicals with the complex structure, were determined from the published data on bond dissociation energies. The ΔH _f ^o values of the corresponding molecules were calculated, in the majority of cases, by the macroincrement method. Calculations by the group contribution method were performed. Some ΔH _f ^o(R^?) values were compared to those calculated by the additive-group method. Calculations were performed, and the conjugation energies of the radicals were discussed. The errors of determination of the ΔH _f ^o(R^?) values found were estimated. Due to this work, the database for ΔH _f ^o values of hydrocarbon radicals was increased more than by 25%.     

Ionic solvation in water + co-solvent mixtures. Part 8. Total free energies of transfer and free energies of transfer with the “neutral” component removed of single ions from water into water + acetone

The acid dissociation constants of a wide range of acids in water+acetone mixtures have been combined with values for the free energy of transfer of the proton. ΔG⁰_t(H⁺ to calculate values for the free energy of transfer of ions which derive only from the charge on the ion. ΔG⁰_t(i)_c. As the values of ΔG⁰_t(H⁺) have been revised, revised values for the total free energies of transfer of cations and anions, ΔG⁰_t(M⁺) and ΔG^o_t(X^-), are given. New data for ΔG^o_t(MX_n) is also split into values for ΔG⁰_t(Mⁿ⁺) (where n=1 and 2) and ΔG⁰_t(X^?). These free energies of transfer, both total and those deriving from the charge alone, are compared with similar free energies in other mixtures water+co-solvent. Values for ΔG^o_t(i)_c do not conform to a Born-type relationship and show the importance of structural effects in the solvent even when only the transfer of the charge is involved.     

Synthesis of pyridine N-imine complexes of methylcobaloxime and reactions of bis(dimethylglyoximato)methyl(Pyridine N-imine)cobalt with acid anyhydrides and acetylenedicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester

Pyridine N-imine complexes of methylcobaloxime, CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(R¹— C₅H_nN⁺N^?H) (n = 4; R¹ = H, 2-CH₃, 3-CH₃, 4-CH₃: n = 3; R¹ = 2,6-CH₃), have been synthesized by the reaction of CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂S(CH₃)₂ with a pyridine N-imine which is generated from a pyridine, hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid and K₂CO₃. The reactions of CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(C₅H₅N⁺N^?H) with acid anhydrides form new methylcobaloxime complexes with N-substituted pyridine N-imines, CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(C₅H₅N⁺N^?R²) R² = COPh, COMe, COEt). With maleic anhydride, (pyridine N-acryloylimine)carboxylic acid is formed. With acetylenedicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the ligand gives pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester.     

Regioselectivity in the amination of azines: Reaction of pyrazine derivatives with <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine

Treatment of 2-X-substituted pyrazines [X = H, Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, t-Bu, MeCH(OH), H₂N, AcNH] with O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine gave the corresponding 2-X- and 3-X-(1-amino)pyrazin-1-ium mesitylenesulfonates. 2-Alkylpyrazines (X = Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr) displayed a correlation between the logarithms of the concentration ratio of 2- and 3-substituted cations and substituent steric constants. Wider series of substituted pyrazines [X = H, Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, MeCH(OH), H₂N, AcNH] conformed to a multiparameter correlation between the logarithms of the concentration ratio of 2- and 3-substituted cations, on the one hand, and substituent constants σ_I, σ_R^o, and E _s^o, on the other. The obtained data on the regioselectivity of amination of pyrazines were interpreted in terms of DFT/PBE/3Z quantum-chemical calculations.     

Electronic nonadiabatic transitions in the reactive (Ar+ + H2, Ar + H+2, ArH+ + H) system. Numerical results for the collinear configuration

In this communication are presented exact quantum mechanical nonadiabatic electronic transition probabilities for the collinear reaction Ar⁺ + H₂(v_i = 0) → ArH⁺(v_f) + H. The calculations were performed using a potential surface calculated by the DIM method. It is established that large probabilities (≈ 1.0) can be obtained only if there is enough translational energy to overcome a potential barrier formed due to the crossing between v_i = 0 of the Ar⁺ + H₂ system and v_i = 2 of the Ar + H⁺₂ system. The threshold for the reaction is found to be 0.06 eV.     

2,5‐Dicarboxy­anilinium chloride monohydrate

The title compound, C₈H₈NO₄⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, is the chloro­hydrated form of 2‐amino­benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid, the basic crystal structure of which is still not known. Mol­ecules are linked by classical N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O, N—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, mainly along the mol­ecular plane, into sheets built by unusual R₆⁴(26), R₆⁴(22) and R₄³(22) rings. The stacking between layers is stabilized by another N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bond and by π–π inter­actions between aromatic rings facing each other.     

Acidité dans le nitrométhane: III. Détermination électrochimique de la basicité du nitrométhane — Corrélation Dn/Eo(Hs+/H2/

The use of the complex acid HAlCl₄ (HCl+AlCl₃) permits the detemrination of the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in nitromethane. The result (E₀(H_s⁺/H₂)=0.5 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺, Fc=ferrocene) shows that nitromethane is very weakly basic. This measurement is confirmed by showing that the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in various solvents is linked to Gutmann's donor numbers of these solvents. The E₀(H_s⁺/H₂) value obtained in nitromethane belongs to the correlation line.     

Ferrocene as a Reference Redox Couple for Aprotic Ionic Liquids

The electrochemical behavior of ferrocene has been studied in a number of room temperature ionic liquids. Diffusion‐controlled, well‐defined anodic and cathodic peaks were found for the Fc/Fc⁺ (ferrocene/ferrocenium) oxidation/reduction on the gold electrode. Ohmic resistance R between working and auxiliary electrodes was deduced from impedance measurements. Cyclic voltammograms were corrected for the base line current as well as for the ohmic drop (IR). The formal potential 1/2(E_pa+E_pc) for ferrocene reduction/oxidation in aprotic ionic liquids tested is within a relatively narrow range and may be approximated by the value of 0.527±0.018 V (against the cryptate Ag/Ag⁺222 in acetonitrile reference). Ferrocene diffusion coefficients, calculated from the peak current dependence on the sweep rate, were of the order of 10^?7 cm² s^?1.     

Proton‐transfer compounds of isonipecotamide with the aromatic dicarboxylic acids 4‐nitrophthalic, 4,5‐dichlorophthalic, 5‐nitroisophthalic and terephthalic acid

The structures of the 1:1 proton‐transfer compounds of isonipecotamide (piperidine‐4‐carboxamide) with 4‐nitrophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 2‐carboxy‐4‐nitrobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₆⁻, (I)], 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (II)] and 5‐nitroisophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 3‐carboxy‐5‐nitrobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₆⁻, (III)], as well as the 2:1 compound with terephthalic acid [bis(4‐carbamoylpiperidinium) benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate dihydrate, 2C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₄²⁻·2H₂O, (IV)], have been determined at 200 K. All salts form hydrogen‐bonded structures, viz. one‐dimensional in (II) and three‐dimensional in (I), (III) and (IV). In (I) and (III), the centrosymmetric R₂²(8) cyclic amide–amide association is found, while in (IV) several different types of water‐bridged cyclic associations are present [graph sets R₄²(8), R₄³(10), R₄⁴(12), R₃³(18) and R₆⁴(22)]. The one‐dimensional structure of (I) features the common `planar' hydrogen 4,5‐dichlorophthalate anion, together with enlarged cyclic R₃³(13) and R₄³(17) associations. In the structures of (I) and (III), the presence of head‐to‐tail hydrogen phthalate chain substructures is found. In (IV), head‐to‐tail primary cation–anion associations are extended longitudinally into chains through the water‐bridged cation associations, and laterally by piperidinium–carboxylate N—H...O and water–carboxylate O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The structures reported here further demonstrate the utility of the isonipecotamide cation as a synthon for the generation of stable hydrogen‐bonded structures. An additional example of cation–anion association with this cation is also shown in the asymmetric three‐centre piperidinium–carboxylate N—H...O,O′ interaction in the first‐reported structure of a 2:1 isonipecotamide–carboxylate salt.     

Highly Active,Thermally Stable,Ethylene‐Polymerisation Pre‐Catalysts Based on Niobium/Tantalum?Imine Systems

The reactions of MCl₅ or MOCl₃ with imidazole‐based pro‐ligand L¹H, 3,5‐tBu₂‐2‐OH‐C₆H₂‐(4,5‐Ph₂‐1H‐)imidazole, or oxazole‐based ligand L²H, 3,5‐tBu₂‐2‐OH‐C₆H₂(1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d])oxazole, following work‐up, afforded octahedral complexes [MX(L^{1, 2})], where MX=NbCl₄ (L¹, 1 a ; L², 2 a ), [NbOCl₂(NCMe)] (L¹, 1 b ; L², 2 b ), TaCl₄ (L¹, 1 c ; L², 2 c ), or [TaOCl₂(NCMe)] (L¹, 1 d ). The treatment of α‐diimine ligand L³, (2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N?CH)₂, with [MCl₄(thf)₂] (M=Nb, Ta) afforded [MCl₄(L³)] (M=Nb, 3 a ; Ta, 3 b ). The reaction of [MCl₃(dme)] (dme=1,2‐dimethoxyethane; M=Nb, Ta) with bis(imino)pyridine ligand L⁴, 2,6‐[2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N?(Me)C]₂C₅H₃N, afforded known complexes of the type [MCl₃(L⁴)] (M=Nb, 4 a ; Ta, 4 b ), whereas the reaction of 2‐acetyl‐6‐iminopyridine ligand L⁵, 2‐[2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N?(Me)C]‐6‐Ac‐C₅H₃N, with the niobium precursor afforded the coupled product [({2‐Ac‐6‐(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N?(Me)C)C₅H₃N}NbOCl₂)₂] ( 5 ). The reaction of MCl₅ with Schiff‐base pro‐ligands L⁶H–L¹⁰H, 3,5‐(R¹)₂‐2‐OH‐C₆H₂CH?N(2‐OR²‐C₆H₄), (L⁶H: R¹=tBu, R²=Ph; L⁷H: R¹=tBu, R²=Me; L⁸H: R¹=Cl, R²=Ph; L⁹H: R¹=Cl, R²=Me; L¹⁰H: R¹=Cl, R²=CF₃) afforded [MCl₄(L^6–10)] complexes (M=Nb, 6 a – 10 a ; M=Ta, 6 b – 9 b ). In the case of compound 8 b , the corresponding zwitterion was also synthesised, namely [Ta^?Cl₅(L⁸H)⁺] ? MeCN ( 8 c ). Unexpectedly, the reaction of L⁷H with TaCl₅ at reflux in toluene led to the removal of the methyl group and the formation of trichloride 7 c [TaCl₃(L^7‐Me)]; conducting the reaction at room temperature led to the formation of the expected methoxy compound ( 7 b ). Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these complexes displayed poor activities for the homogeneous polymerisation of ethylene. However, the use of chloroalkylaluminium reagents, such as dimethylaluminium chloride (DMAC) and methylaluminium dichloride (MADC), as co‐catalysts in the presence of the reactivator ethyl trichloroacetate (ETA) generated thermally stable catalysts with, in the case of niobium, catalytic activities that were two orders of magnitude higher than those previously observed. The effects of steric hindrance and electronic configuration on the polymerisation activity of these tantalum and niobium pre‐catalysts were investigated. Spectroscopic studies (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ¹H? ¹H and ¹H? ¹³C correlations) on the reactions of compounds 4 a / 4 b with either MAO(50) or AlMe₃/[CPh₃]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? were consistent with the formation of a diamagnetic cation of the form [L⁴AlMe₂]⁺ (MAO(50) is the product of the vacuum distillation of commercial MAO at +50 °C and contains only 1 mol % of Al in the form of free AlMe₃). In the presence of MAO, this cationic aluminium complex was not capable of initiating the ROMP (ring opening metathesis polymerisation) of norbornene, whereas the 4 a / 4 b systems with MAO(50) were active. A parallel pressure reactor (PPR)‐based homogeneous polymerisation screening by using pre‐catalysts 1 b , 1 c , 2 a , 3 a and 6 a , in combination with MAO, revealed only moderate‐to‐good activities for the homo‐polymerisation of ethylene and the co‐polymerisation of ethylene/1‐hexene. The molecular structures are reported for complexes 1 a – 1 c , 2 b , 5 , 6 a , 6 b, 7 a, 8 a and 8 c .     

Hydrogen‐bonding motifs in 3‐carboxyanilinium bromide and iodide

In the title compounds, C₇H₈NO₂⁺·Br⁻, (I), and C₇H₈NO₂⁺·I⁻, (II), the asymmetric unit contains a discrete 3‐carboxyanilinium cation, with a protonated amine group, and a halide anion. The compounds are not isostructural, and the crystal structures of (I) and (II) are characterized by different two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks. The ions in (I) are connected into ladder‐like ribbons via N—H...Br hydrogen bonds, while classic cyclic O—H...O hydrogen bonds between adjacent carboxylic acid functions link adjacent ribbons to give three characteristic graph‐set motifs, viz. C₂¹(4), R₄²(8) and R₂²(8). The ions in (II) are connected via N—H...I, N—H...O and O—H...I hydrogen bonds, also with three characteristic graph‐set motifs, viz. C(7), C₂¹(4) and R₄²(18), but an O—H...O interaction is not present.     

Metal‐Free Dihydrogen Oxidation by a Borenium Cation: A Combined Electrochemical/Frustrated Lewis Pair Approach

In order to use H₂ as a clean source of electricity, prohibitively rare and expensive precious metal electrocatalysts, such as Pt, are often used to overcome the large oxidative voltage required to convert H₂ into 2 H⁺ and 2 e^?. Herein, we report a metal‐free approach to catalyze the oxidation of H₂ by combining the ability of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) to heterolytically cleave H₂ with the in situ electrochemical oxidation of the resulting borohydride. The use of the NHC‐stabilized borenium cation [(IiPr₂)(BC₈H₁₄)]⁺ (IiPr₂=C₃H₂(NiPr)₂, NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene) as the Lewis acidic component of the FLP is shown to decrease the voltage required for H₂ oxidation by 910 mV at inexpensive carbon electrodes, a significant energy saving equivalent to 175.6 kJ mol^?1. The NHC–borenium Lewis acid also offers improved catalyst recyclability and chemical stability compared to B(C₆F₅)₃, the paradigm Lewis acid originally used to pioneer our combined electrochemical/frustrated Lewis pair approach.