In 2006, our group reported the first metal-free systems that reversibly activate hydrogen. This finding was extended to the discovery of "frustrated Lewis pair" (FLP) catalysts for hydrogenation. It is this catalysis that is the focal point of this article. The development and applications of such FLP hydrogenation catalysts are reviewed, and some previously unpublished data are reported. The scope of the substrates is expanded. Optimal conditions and functional group tolerance are considered and applied to targets of potential commercial significance. Recent developments in asymmetric FLP hydrogenations are also reviewed. The future of FLP hydrogenation catalysts is considered.

Interest in reductions with main group hydrides has been reinvigorated with the discovery of frustrated Lewis pairs. Computational analysis showed that the borohydride of the commonly used Lewis acid B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 was determined to be 15 kcal/mol less reducing than borohydride ([BH 4 ] − ), 22 kcal/mol less reducing than aluminum hydride ([AlH 4 ] − ), and 41 kcal/mol less reducing than superhydride ([HBEt 3 ] − ). In addition to [HB(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ] − , a hydride donor ability scale with an estimated error of ∼3 kcal/mol includes 132 main group hydrides with gradually changing reducing capabilities spanning 160 kcal/mol. The scale includes representatives from organosilanes, organogermanes, organostannanes, borohydrides, boranes, aluminum hydrides, NADH analogues, and CH hydride donors. The large variety of reducing agents and the wide span of the scale (ranging from 0.5 to 160 kcal/mol in acetonitrile) make the scale a useful tool for the future design of metal-based or main group reducing agents.

Solutions of Cp*IrH(rac-TsDPEN) (TsDPEN = H2NCHPhCHPhN(SO2C6H4CH3)-) (1H(H)) with O2 generate Cp*Ir(TsDPEN-H) (1) and 1 equiv of H2O. Kinetic analysis indicates a third-order rate law (second order in [1H(H)] and first order in [O2]), resulting in an overall rate constant of 0.024 +/- 0.013 M(-2) s(-1). Isotopic labeling revealed that the rate of the reaction of 1H(H) + O2 was strongly affected by deuteration at the hydride position (k(HH2)/k(DH2) = 6.0 +/- 1.3) but insensitive to deuteration of the amine (k(HH2)/k(HD2) = 1.2 +/- 0.2); these values are more disparate than for conventional transfer hydrogenation (Casey, C. P.; Johnson, J. B. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 1998-2001). The temperature dependence of the reaction rate indicated DeltaH = 82.2 kJ/mol, DeltaS = 13.2 J/mol K, and a reaction barrier of 85.0 kJ/mol. A CH2Cl2 solution under 0.30 atm of H2 and 0.13 atm of O2 converted to H2O in the presence of 1 and 10 mol % of H(OEt2)2BAr(F)4 (BAr(F)4- = B(C6H3-3,5-(CF3)2)4-). The formation of water from H2 was verified by 2H NMR for the reaction of D2 + O2. Solutions of 1 slowly catalyze the oxidation of amyl alcohol to pentanal; using 1,4-benzoquinone as a cocatalyst, the conversion was faster. Complex 1 also catalyzes the reaction of O2 with RNH2BH3 (R = H, t-Bu), resulting in the formation of water and H2. The deactivation of the catalyst 1 in its reactions with O2 was traced to degradation of the Cp* ligand to a fulvene derivative. This pathway is not observed in the presence of amine-boranes, which were shown to reduce fulvenes back to Cp*. This work suggests the potential of transfer hydrogenation catalysts in reactions involving O2.

Organometallic complexes containing non-innocent ligands of the type Cp*Ir(tBAFPh)(1), where H2tBAFPh is 2-(2-trifluoromethyl)anilino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol, were found to activate H2 in a redox-switchable manner. The 16e- complex 1 was inert with respect to H2, CO, as well as conventional basic substrates until oxidation. Oxidation of 16-electron 1 with 1 equiv of Ag+ resulted in ligand-centered oxidation affording salts of [1]+, which were characterized by crystallographically, EPR, and elemental analyses. [1]+ was reduced to 1 in the presence of H2 and the sterically hindered base, 2,6-(tBu)2C5H3N, via a pathway that is first-order in both metal and dihydrogen. Compound [1]+ forms adducts with MeCN, which inhibits catalysis. The catalytic oxidation of H2 was established by electrochemical methods to be associated with the monocation.

Hydrogenation of the N-bound phenyl rings of amines, imines, and aziridine is achieved in the presence of H(2) and B(C(6)F(5))(3), affording the corresponding N-cyclohexylammonium hydridoborate salts.