Bespoke synthesis of unsymmetrical diaminoboranes by alkaline earth catalysis

In the presence of an iridium pincer complex, dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (H3NBH3) occurs rapidly at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran to generate 1.0 equivalent of H2 and [NH2BH2]5. A metal borohydride complex has been isolated as a dormant form of the catalyst which can be reactivated by reaction with H2.