Thermal decomposition of ammonia-borane in solution

The thermal decomposition of ammonia-borane, NH3BH3, in solution was investigated using NMR, IR, and GC-M5 techniques. Three types of reactions were observed. In the case of acetonitrile, ethylamine-borane, C2H5NH2 BH3, was observed indicating that hydroboration reaction(s) had taken place. Base displacement reactions by the solvent were observed in pyridine, aniline, dimethylformamide and hexamethylphosphoramide producing solvent BH3 adducts or, in the case of aniline, a product derived from such an adduct. [...]