Heterogeneous nickel-catalysed reversible, acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles for hydrogen storage.

Nickel-based nanocatalysts were used in acceptorless, reversible dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions of N-heterocycles. Both processes were realized in the same solvent using a single catalyst, without isolation of products and workup, which makes it attractive for hydrogen storage purposes. This concept has been demonstrated in a continuous hydrogenation/dehydrogenation sequence of quinaldine with negligible loss in activity of the nickel catalyst after three hydrogen storage cycles. The scope of acceptorless dehydrogenation has been explored and control experiments suggest that hydrogen liberation is initiated via amine dehydrogenation and supports the direct alkane dehydrogenation from the partially oxidized N-heterocycles.