Metal‐Borohydride‐Modified Zr(BH4)4⋅8 NH3: Low‐Temperature Dehydrogenation Yielding Highly Pure Hydrogen

Due to its high hydrogen density (14.8 wt %) and low dehydrogenation peak temperature (130 °C), Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃ is considered to be one of the most promising hydrogen‐storage materials. To further decrease its dehydrogenation temperature and suppress its ammonia release, a strategy of introducing LiBH₄ and Mg(BH₄)₂ was applied to this system. Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–4 LiBH₄ and Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–2 Mg(BH₄)₂ composites showed main dehydrogenation peaks centered at 81 and 106 °C as well as high hydrogen purities of 99.3 and 99.8 mol % H₂, respectively. Isothermal measurements showed that 6.6 wt % (within 60 min) and 5.5 wt % (within 360 min) of hydrogen were released at 100 °C from Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–4 LiBH₄ and Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–2 Mg(BH₄)₂, respectively. The lower dehydrogenation temperatures and improved hydrogen purities could be attributed to the formation of the diammoniate of diborane for Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–4 LiBH₄, and the partial transfer of NH₃ groups from Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃ to Mg(BH₄)₂ for Zr(BH₄)₄ ? 8 NH₃–2 Mg(BH₄)₂, which result in balanced numbers of BH₄ and NH₃ groups and a more active H^δ+ ??? ^?δH interaction. These advanced dehydrogenation properties make these two composites promising candidates as hydrogen‐storage materials.     

A New Ammine Dual‐Cation (Li,Mg) Borohydride: Synthesis,Structure, and Dehydrogenation Enhancement

A new ammine dual‐cation borohydride, LiMg(BH₄)₃(NH₃)₂, has been successfully synthesized simply by ball‐milling of Mg(BH₄)₂ and LiBH₄ ? NH₃. Structure analysis of the synthesized LiMg(BH₄)₃(NH₃)₂ revealed that it crystallized in the space group P6₃ (no. 173) with lattice parameters of a=b=8.0002(1) Å, c=8.4276(1) Å, α=β=90°, and γ=120° at 50 °C. A three‐dimensional architecture is built up through corner‐connecting BH₄ units. Strong N? H???H? B dihydrogen bonds exist between the NH₃ and BH₄ units, enabling LiMg(BH₄)₃(NH₃)₂ to undergo dehydrogenation at a much lower temperature. Dehydrogenation studies have revealed that the LiMg(BH₄)₃(NH₃)₂/LiBH₄ composite is able to release over 8 wt % hydrogen below 200 °C, which is comparable to that released by Mg(BH₄)₃(NH₃)₂. More importantly, it was found that release of the byproduct NH₃ in this system can be completely suppressed by adjusting the ratio of Mg(BH₄)₂ and LiBH₄ ? NH₃. This chemical control route highlights a potential method for modifying the dehydrogenation properties of other ammine borohydride systems.     

Formation and Unimolecular Dehydrogenation of Gaseous Alkaline‐earth Metal Amidoboranes M(NH2BH3)2 (M = Be – Ba): Comparative Computational Study

Formation of alkaline‐earth metal amidoboranes M(NH₂BH₃)₂ (M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and unimolecular dehydrogenation reactions were computationally studied at the B3LYP/def2‐TZVPPD level of theory. Formation of M(NH₂BH₃)₂ from ammonia borane and MH₂ is exergonic, but subsequent unimolecular dehydrogenation reactions are endergonic at room temperature. In contrast to alkali metal amidoboranes, for M(NH₂BH₃)₂ the nature of M significantly affects their reactivity. Activation energies for the dehydrogenation of first and second hydrogen molecules decrease from Be to Ba. In case of Be compounds, intramolecular M ··· H–B contacts play an important role, whereas for heavier analogs such contacts are much less pronounced.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur der Monoammoniakate von Lithiumhalogeniden: LiBr·NH3 und LiI·NH3

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of the Monoammoniates of Lithium Halides: LiBr·NH₃ and LiI·NH₃ Crystals of LiBr·NH₃ and LiI·NH₃ sufficient in size and quality for X‐ray structure determinations were obtained in autoclaves by the reaction of Li with NH₄Br and LiH with NH₄I at 523 K and 423 K respectively. Lattice constants obtained from X‐ray single crystal data are: LiBr·NH₃: P2₁/n, a = 7, 077(2)Å, b = 7, 026(2)Å, c = 7, 490(2)Å β = 114, 84(3)°, Z = 4 LiI·NH₃: P2₁, a = 4, 493(1)Å, b = 6, 077(1)Å, c = 7, 512(2)Å β = 107, 15(3)°, Z = 2 The ammoniates contain different structural building units. Both of them contain layers of connected tetrahedra Li(NH₃)X_3/3 with X = Br, I. Tetrahedra‐double units with a common Br‐Br edge occur, whilst for the iodide all tetrahedra are exclusively vertex connected to puckered layers. IR‐ and Raman‐spectroscopic measurements show, that only weak H‐bridges N‐H···X are present and that the NH₃‐ligands are in fixed positions at room temperature.     

Hydrogen Bonds in Rubidium Amide‐Ammonia(3/2), RbNH2·2/3NH3

Rubidium amide‐ammonia(3/2), RbNH₂·2/3NH₃, was synthesized from Rubidiumhydride, RbH, in liquid ammonia at ?78 °C. The compound crystallizes in the cubic space group I2₁3 with Z = 4, a = 10.0490(12) Å, and V = 1014.77(20) Å as isometric colorless crystals. The crystal structure was solved from single‐crystal X‐ray data. The structure contains a three‐dimensional network of amide anions and ammonia molecules, which are interconnected via hydrogen bonds.     

Kaliumamidotrioxogermanate(IV) – Wasserstoff-Brückenbindungen in K3GeO3NH2 und K3GeO3NH2 · KNH2

Potassium Amido Trioxo Germanates(IV) – Hydrogen Bridge Bonds in K₃GeO₃NH₂ and K₃GeO₃NH₂ · KNH₂ Colorless crystals of K₃GeO₃NH₂ and of K₃GeO₃NH₂ · KNH₂ were obtained by the reaction of KNH₂ with GeO₂ in supercritical ammonia at 450°C and p = 6 kbar in high-pressure autoclaves within 15 resp. 5 days. The crystal structures of both compounds were solved by X-ray single crystal methods. K₃GeO₃NH₂: P1 , a = 6.390(1) Å, b = 6.684(1) Å, c = 7.206(1) Å, α = 96.47(1)°, β = 101.66(1)°, γ = 91.66(1)°, Z = 2, R/R_w = 0.020/0.022, N(I) ≥ 2σ(I) = 3023, N(Var.) = 82 K₃GeO₃NH₂ · KNH₂: P2₁/c, a = 10.982(6) Å, b = 6.429(1) Å, c = 12.256(8) Å, β = 106.12(1)°, Z = 4, R/R_w = 0.022/0.029, N(F) ≥ 3σ(F) = 1745, N(Var.) = 107. In K₃GeO₃NH₂ tetrahedral ions GeO₃NH₂^3? are connected to chains by N? H …? O bridge bonds with 2.18 Å ≤ d(H …? O) ≤ 2.40 Å for d(N? H) ? 1.0 Å and by potassium ions while in K₃GeO₃NH₂ · KNH₂ bridge bonds between NH₂ groups of GeO₃NH₂^3? and NH₂^? ions as acceptors occur with 2.41 Å ≤ d((N? )H …? NH₂^?) ≤ 2.61 Å for d(N? H) ? 1.0 Å.     

First Characterization of an Extended Ammonium‐Ammonia Complex [{NH4(NH3)4}+(μ‐NH3)2] in the Crystal Structure of [NH4(NH3)4][Co(C2B9H11)2] · 2 NH3

The compound [NH₄(NH₃)₄][Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂] · 2 NH₃ ( 1 ) was prepared by the reaction of Na[Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂] with a proton‐charged ion‐exchange resin in liquid ammonia. The ammoniate 1 was characterized by low temperature single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The anionic part of the structure consists of [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^‐ complexes, which are connected via C‐H···H‐B dihydrogen bonds. Furthermore, 1 contains an infinite equation/tex2gif-stack-2.gif[{NH₄(NH₃)₄}⁺(μ‐NH₃)₂] cationic chain, which is formed by [NH₄(NH₃)₄]⁺ ions linked by two ammonia molecules. The N‐H···N hydrogen bonds range from 1.92 to 2.71Å (DHA = Donor···Acceptor angles: 136‐176°). Additional N‐H···H‐B dihydrogen bonds are observed (H···H: 2.3‐2.4Å).     

Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Diamminesodium(1+) Triamminesodium(1+) Trithioantimonate(3−) Ammoniate (1 : 2 : 1 : 2) ([Na(NH3)3]2[Na(NH3)2]SbS3⋅2 NH3), A Solvated Neutral Sodium Trithioantimonate(3−) (3 : 1) Na3SbS3) Ion Complex

A solution of sodium in liquid ammonia reacts with Sb₂S₃ to form large colorless crystals of the composition Na₃SbS₃⋅10 NH₃. The trigonal‐pyramidal SbS₃³⁻ anion is ion‐paired with three Na⁺ counter ions, the coordination spheres of which are completed by eight ammine ligands. The resulting neutral [Na(NH₃)₃]₂[Na(NH₃)₂]SbS₃ molecules crystallize together with two ammonia molecules of solvation in the space group P2₁/c (a=9.828(2), b=6.0702(4), c=33.4377(6) Å, β=91.362(7)°, V=1994.2(5) ų, Z=4).     

Synthesis and Thermal Decomposition Behaviors of Magnesium Borohydride Ammoniates with Controllable Composition as Hydrogen Storage Materials

An ammonia‐redistribution strategy for synthesizing metal borohydride ammoniates with controllable coordination number of NH₃ was proposed, and a series of magnesium borohydride ammoniates were easily synthesized by a mechanochemical reaction between Mg(BH₄)₂ and its hexaammoniate. A strong dependence of the dehydrogenation temperature and purity of the released hydrogen upon heating on the coordination number of NH₃ was elaborated for Mg(BH₄)₂?x NH₃ owing to the change in the molar ratio of H^δ+ and H^δ?, the charge distribution on H^δ+ and H^δ?, and the strength of the coordinate bond N:→Mg²⁺. The monoammoniate of magnesium borohydride (Mg(BH₄)₂?NH₃) was obtained for the first time. It can release 6.5 % pure hydrogen within 50 minutes at 180 °C.     

The Neutral Complex (NH3)Ag(NCO)

Dissolution of solid AgNCO (silver isocyanate) in aqueous ammonia (25 %) and subsequent crystal growth at T = –9 °C furnished the new ammoniate (NH₃)Ag(NCO) as colorless crystals [P2₁/c (no. 14); a = 4.1817(3) Å, b = 14.445(1) Å, c = 6.1988(5) Å, β = 102.0(4)°, V = 365,6(2) ų; Z = 4]. In the molecular monammine complex, which is only stable at temperatures below T = 0 °C, silver is in a twofold, however, asymmetrical coordination by the isocyanate anion and ammonia. At the reaction conditions applied, AgNCO does not form an ionic diammine species (e.g. [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺) as known from related silver salts. In this sense, the solvation chemistry of AgNCO exhibits a rarely observed feature.     

Mehrkernige Kobaltkomplexe. II. Herstellung und Struktur von [(tren) (NH3)Co(O2)Co(NH3) (tren)](SCN)4 · 2H2O

Polynuclear Cobalt Complexes. II. Preparation and Structure of [(tren) (NH₃)Co(O₂)Co(NH₃) (tren)](SCN)₄ · 2H₂O The title compound is obtained on oxygenation of [Co(tren)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in 6M aqueous ammonia or by ligand exchange starting from [(NH₃)₅Co(O₂)Co(NH₃)₅]-(NO₃)₄. An X-ray structure determination was made. The substance forms monoclinic crystals, space group P2₁/c, lattice constants a=10,135, b=8,473, c=19,484 Å, β=108,58°, with two formula units in the cell. The final R is 0,066. The binuclear cation has a center of symmetry, so the Co? O? O? Co unit is planar; the Co? O? O angle is 111,5°. The tertiary nitrogen atoms of both chelate groups are cis to the O₂ bridge, as found in doubly bridged [(tren)Co(O₂,OH)Co(tren)](ClO₄)₃ · 3H₂O. On acidification in solution, the singly bridged cation [(tren) (NH₃)CoO₂Co(NH₃)(tren)]⁴⁺ (a) loses the bound O₂ completely. But unlike the doubly bridged cation b , the rate of dissociation of a is independent of pH (Fig. 5). At higher pH (8–10) bridging a→b (Fig. 2) occurs. Both reactions must have the same rate determining step, the first order rate constants being of the order of 2 · 10^?3 s^?1 (25°, 0,35M KCl).     

Hexamincyclotriphosphazenhemiammoniakat,P3N3(NH2)6 · 0,5 NH3, ein Produkt der Hochdruckammonolyse von weißem Phosphor

Hexaminecyclotriphosphazenehemiammoniate, P₃N₃(NH₂)₆ · 0.5 NH₃, a Product of High Pressure Ammonolysis of White Phosphorus White phosphorus gives at NH₃-pressures ≥5 kbar and temperatures above 250°C in a disproportionation reaction P₃N₃(NH₂)₆ · 0.5 NH₃; besides these products red phosphorus is formed. The yield on P₃N₃(NH₂)₆ · 0.5 NH₃ increases with T and is about 70–80% at 400°C as to the disproportionation reaction of the amount of white phosphorus. X-ray structure determination was successful on single crystals of P₃N₃(NH₂)₆ · 0.5 NH₃. Pbca, N = 8 a = 11.395(3) Å, b = 12.935(4) Å, c = 12.834(4) Å R = 0.035, R_w = 0.041 with w = 1, N (F_o²) ≥ 3σ(F_o²) = 1371, N(Var.) = 166. The molecules are connected by N? H? N-bridgebonds with 3.04 Å ≤ d(N …? N) ≤ 3,19 Å and d (N? H) = 0.87 Å. The compound is furthermore characterized by IR-data and its thermical behaviour.     

Lithiumaluminiumamid,LiAl(NH2)4, Darstellung,röntgenographische Untersuchung,Infrarotspektrum und thermische Zersetzung

Lithium Aluminium Amide, LiAl(NH₂)₄-Preparation, X-Ray Investigation, I.R.Spectrum, and Thermal Decomposition The reaction of lithium and aluminium with liquid ammonia gives LiAl(NH₂)₄ within some days at temperatures from 80–100°C. Crystals for an X-ray structure determination must be grown very slowly from liquid NH₃ starting with thoroughly pulverized amide. The structure analysis was successful including the determination of the positions of the hydrogen atoms of the amide ions. Space group: P2₁/n; lattice constants: a = 9.478(1) Å, b = 7.351(1) Å, c = 7.398(1) Å, β = 90.26(1)°; Z = 4, R-values (unweighted, weighted with w = 1): 0.042/0.046. The atomic arrangement of LiAl(NH₂)₄ can formally be described as a new variant of the GaPS₄-type structure. The compound is characterized too by its i.r. spectrum. The thermal degradation of LiAl(NH₂)₄ gives at 180°C amorphous Al₂(NH)₃ and crystalline LiNH₂; at 220°C results already very fine AlN. Above 400°C this AlN reacts with LiNH₂ or Li₂NH forming Li₃AlN₂.     

Vergleich der Kristallstrukturen der Tetraammoniakate von Lithiumhalogeniden,LiBr·4NH3 und LiI·4NH3, mit der Struktur von Tetramethylammoniumiodid,N(CH3)4I

A Comparison of the Crystal Structures of the Tetraammoniates of Lithium Halides, LiBr·4NH₃ and LiI·4NH₃, with the Structure of Tetramethylammonium Iodide, N(CH₃)₄I Crystals of the tetraammoniates of LiBr and LiI sufficient in size for X‐ray structure determinations were obtained by slow evaporation of NH₃ at room temperature from a clear solution of the halides in liquid ammonia. The compounds crystallize in the space group Pnma (No. 62) with four formula units in the unit cell: LiBr·4NH₃: a = 11.947(5)Å, b = 7.047(4)Å, c = 9.472(3)Å LiI·4NH₃: a = 12.646(3)Å, b = 7.302 (1)Å, c = 9.790(2)Å For N(CH₃)₄I the structure was now successfully solved including the hydrogen positions of the methyl groups. N(CH₃)₄I: P4/nmm (No. 129), Z = 2, a = 7.948(1)Å, c = 5.738(1)Å The ammoniates of LiBr and LiI crystallize isotypic in a strongly distorted arrangement of the CsCl motif. Even N(CH₃)₄I has an CsCl‐like structure. Both structure types differ mainly in their orientation of the [Li(NH₃)₄]⁺ — resp. [N(CH₃)₄]⁺ — cations with respect to the surrounding “cube” of anions.     

Darstellung und Strukturaufklärung von Ammonium‐tetraamminlithium‐amidotrithiophosphat‐Ammoniak(1/1) (NH4) [Li(NH3)4] [P(NH2)S3] · NH3

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Ammonium Tetraamminelithium Amidotrithiophosphate‐Ammonia(1/1)(NH₄)[Li(NH₃)₄][P(NH₂)S₃]·NH₃ Colourless crystals of (NH₄)[Li(NH₃)₄][P(NH₂)S₃]·NH₃ were prepared by the reduction of P₄S₁₀ with a solution of lithium in liquid ammonia. The X‐ray structure determination shows them to contain the pseudo‐tetrahedral amidotrithiophosphate anion [P(NH₂)S₃]²⁻ (point group C_S), which is the hitherto unknown final member of a series of previously characterized amidothiophosphates. The ammonium ion and the ammonia molecule of solvation form an diamminehydrogen(1+)‐ion N₂H₇⁺ with a short, nearly linear hydrogen bond of 2.864(3) Å.     

A S8‐like [Sb8]8− Zintl Anion in the Ammoniate [K17(Sb8)2(NH2)] · 17.5NH3

The ammoniate [K₁₇(Sb₈)₂(NH₂)] · 17.5NH₃ was synthesized by reduction of antimony with potassium in liquid ammonia. Single crystals were isolated and characterized by low temperature X‐ray structure analysis. [K₁₇(Sb₈)₂(NH₂)] · 17.5NH₃ crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c (No. 14) with a = 12.976(1) Å, b = 24.536(1) Å, c = 22.858(1) Å and β = 99.17(1)°. The ammoniate contains crown‐shaped [Sb₈]^8? Zintl anions which are analogous to S₈ rings. The presence of amide NH₂^? as an additional anion is deduced from coordination observations and the close similarity of structural features to the structure of KNH₂.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Cesium Hexamminesodium Decahydro‐closo‐decaborate‐Ammonia(1/1), Cs[Na(NH3)6][B10H10]·NH3

Cs[Na(NH₃)₆][B₁₀H₁₀]·NH₃ was synthesised from cesium and disodium‐decahydro‐closo‐decaborate Na₂B₁₀H₁₀ in liquid ammonia, from which it crystallized in form of temperature sensitive colorless plates (triclinic, P1¯, a = 8.4787(7) Å, b = 13.272(1) Å, c = 17.139(2) Å, α = 88.564(1)°, β = 89.773(1)°, γ = 81.630(1)°, V = 1907.5(3) ų, Z = 4). The compound is the first example of an alkali metal boranate with two different types of cations. The decahydro‐closo‐decaborate dianions [B₁₀H₁₀]^2— and the cesium cations form a equation/tex2gif-stack-1.gif[Cs₂(B₁₀H₁₀)₂]^2— layer parallel to the ac plane. These layers are separated by N—H···N‐hydrogen bonded hexamminesodium cations.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Ammonium Cyanimide NH4HCN2

The compound NH₄HCN₂ ( 1 ) was prepared by the reaction of H₂CN₂ with liquid ammonia. The ammonium salt 1 was characterized by a low temperature single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The anionic part of the structure consists of HCN₂^? anions, which are connected via N–H···N bonds (H···N distance: 2.47Å, DHA: 165°). The N–H···N hydrogen bonds of the ammonium ion to the anions range from 2.00 to 2.14Å (DHA = Donor···Acceptor angles: 165–176°), all N–H···N interactions together give rise to a three‐dimensional network. 1 decomposes quantitatively to dicyandiamide at room temperature.     

Air‐Stable (CAAC)CuCl and (CAAC)CuBH4 Complexes as Catalysts for the Hydrolytic Dehydrogenation of BH3NH3

The first stable copper borohydride complex [(CAAC)CuBH₄] [CAAC=cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene] bearing a single monodentate ligand was prepared by addition of NaBH₄ or BH₃NH₃ to the corresponding [(CAAC)CuCl] complex. Both complexes are air‐stable and promote the catalytic hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. The amount of hydrogen released reaches 2.8 H₂/BH₃NH₃ with a turnover frequency of 8400 mol mol_cat^?1 h^?1 at 25 °C. In a fifteen‐cycle experiment, the catalyst was reused without any loss of efficiency.     

Monoammoniates of Aluminium Halides: The Crystal Structures of AlBr3 · NH3 and AlI3 · NH3

Single crystals of AlBr₃ · NH₃ and AlI₃ · NH₃ sufficient in size for X‐ray structure determinations were obtained by evaporation/ sublimation of the respective compound from its melt. The ammoniates were synthesized by the reaction of the pure halide with NH₃ at ‐78°C and following homogenization by slowly heating the reaction mixture up to the melting points of the ammoniates (124°C and 126°C, respectively). The X‐ray structure determinations for both monoammoniates were successfully carried out for the heavy atom positions (no hydrogen atoms): AlBr₃ · NH₃: Pbca, Z = 16, a = 11.529 (5) Å, b = 12.188 (2) Å, c = 19.701 (4) Å AlI₃ · NH₃: Pbca, Z = 8, a = 13.536 (5) Å, b = 8.759 (2) Å, c = 14.348 (4) Å The structures contain tetrahedral molecules Al(NH₃)X₃ with X = Br, I. They are not isotypic. The main difference is given for the coordination of NH₃ by X^‐ from neighbouring molecules. In Al(NH₃)Br₃ one of the two crystallographically independent NH₃ ligands has 6Br^‐ and the other 7Br^‐ as neighbours whereas in Al(NH)₃I₃ only 5I^‐ surround the one kind of NH₃.