Metal-free hydrogenation catalysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons†
Abstract
The frustrated Lewis pair, B(C6F5)3/Ph2PC6F5, acts as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of the polycyclic hydrocarbons including anthracene derivatives, tetracene and tetraphene, at 80 °C and 100 atm H2 pressure via a mechanism involving protonation of polyaromatic species followed by hydride transfer.