MATRIX-ISOLATION STUDY OF THE MECHANISM OF THE REACTION OF DIBORANE WITH AMMONIA - PYROLYSIS OF THE H3B.NH3 ADDUCT

Gas-phase pyrolysis of the H3B.NH3 adduct followed by trapping of the reaction product (s) in an argon matrix at 14 K was conducted to provide support for an earlier proposed mechanism for the reaction of B2H6 with NH3, As the pyrolysis temperature increased from 65 to 300-degrees-C, a decrease in yield of adduct was noted, along with a concomitant growth in H2B=NH2. The results obtained here support a mechanism for the reaction of B2H6 with NH3 in which the 1:1 adduct HB NH3 is formed in an initial slow step, and is followed by rapid elimination of H-2 to form H2B=NH2.