Experimental and theoretical charge density studies and molecular orbital analyses suggest that the complexes [Cp2Ti(PMe3)SiH2Ph2] (1) and [Cp2Ti(PMe3)SiHCl3] (2) display virtually the same electronic structures. No evidence for a significant interligand hypervalent interaction could be identified for 2. A bonding concept for transition-metal hydrosilane complexes aims to identify the true key parameters for a selective activation of the individual M-Si and Si-H bonds.

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The solid-state structures of LiNH(2)BH(3) and NaNH(2)BH(3) have been shown recently to exhibit intricate M(δ+)···(δ-)H-B and N-H(δ+)···(δ-)H-B interactions. However, closer inspection of these structures reveals additional homopolar H···H interactions, viz., B-H(δ-)···(δ-)H-B and N-H(δ+)···(δ+)H-N, which contribute to the relative stability of the extended structures of these crystalline materials. In addition, an NMR study of the isotopomer LiND(2)BH(3) shows that a significant quantity of H(2) is desorbed thermally along with HD, which can only arise from hydride-hydride interactions, either directly from B-H(δ-)···(δ-)H-B moieties or indirectly through the participation of Li-H intermediates.

The crystal structures of tetraphenylphosphonium squarate, bianthrone, and bis(benzophenone)azine are shown to contain a variety of C-H(delta+)...(delta+)H-C interactions, as well as a variety of C-H...O and C-H...C(pi) interactions. Each of these molecules possesses interactions that can possibly be characterized as either H-H bonds or weak hydrogen bonds based on the first four criteria proposed by Koch and Popelier. These interactions have been completely characterized topologically after the multipole refinement of the structures. It appears that weak interactions of the form C-H(delta+)...(delta+)H-C possess certain correlations between the various properties of the electron density at the bond critical points. The coexistence of the three types of interactions makes it possible to establish similarities and differences in the correlations of these weak interactions. This all leads to a better understanding of H-H interactions and how they fit into the hierarchy of weak interactions.

The solid-state structure of ammonia borane is held together by an intricate N-H···H-B proton-hydride bonding network. These intermolecular interactions have long been considered to mediate the release of hydrogen from this material. Here we reveal the silent but important role played by B-H···H-B interactions in the thermal decomposition of this leading hydrogen storage candidate.