Facile preparation and dehydrogenation of unsolvated KB3H8

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of unsolvated KB₃H₈ was achieved by the reaction of a liquid K–Na alloy with BH₃·THF at room temperature. KB₃H₈ was found to release hydrogen and minor boranes by subsequent cleavage of its B–H and B–H–B bonds during pyrolysis, and yield K₂B₁₂H₁₂ as a major product.