Metal-free hydrogenation catalysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The frustrated Lewis pair, B(C(6)F(5))(3)/Ph(2)PC(6)F(5), acts as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of the polycyclic hydrocarbons including anthracene derivatives, tetracene and tetraphene, at 80 °C and 100 atm H(2) pressure via a mechanism involving protonation of polyaromatic species followed by hydride transfer.