Physical Sciences Division An Unexpected Pairing of Frustrated
Molecules Scientists at PNNL explain how separated molecules get
together to split hydrogen The research graced the cover of the
Dalton Transactions themed issue on boranes and borohydrides.
Permission to use granted by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Results: While their shapes frustrate traditional bonding, two
unreactive molecules come together and surround themselves
within a solvent cage to create a reactive environment to split
hydrogen, according to two new studies by scientists at Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory. Splitting a hydrogen molecule
into a proton and a hydride ion (H-), known as activating the
hydrogen, is vital for sustainable energy production and
storage. The pair of molecules is called a frustrated Lewis pair
or FLP. "The conventional wisdom says that frustrated Lewis
pairs should not be able to activate hydrogen-but they do. We
wanted to know why," said Dr. Greg Schenter, a theoretical
chemist on this project. Why It M