The role of ionic liquids in hydrogen storage.

Ionic liquid (IL) based H2 storage for H2 generation from NH3BH3 derivatives is shown. These systems promote H2 generation at low temperature, with good reaction rates and high total H2 yields. The effects of ILs and the H2 yield in correlation with the basicity, the cations of the ILs, and the role of carbenes are discussed. Furthermore, mechanistic findings on the dehydrogenation are described. IL material blends are competitive with conventional H2 storage materials with experimental efficiencies of at least 6.5 wt % H2.

Stereoselective iron-catalyzed alkyne hydrogenation in ionic liquids.

Iron(0) nanoparticles in ionic liquids (ILs) have been shown to catalyse the semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. In the presence of a nitrile-functionalised IL or acetonitrile, stereoselective formation of (Z)-alkenes was observed. The biphasic solvent system allowed facile separation and re-use of the catalyst.