Preparation of ammonia borane in high yield and purity, methanolysis, and regeneration.

Ammonia borane (AB) is emerging as a promising solid hydrogen carrier, particularly for power generation in portable devices that employ proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. A preparative-scale synthesis of AB from sodium borohydride and ammonium salts in high yields (> or =95%) and very high purity (> or =98%) has been described. The first systematic study of a transitional metal-catalyzed alcoholysis of AB, comparison of the methanolysis to the hydrolysis of AB, and regeneration of AB from ammonium tetramethoxyborate also has been described.