Catalysed low temperature H-2 release from nitrogen heterocycles

In an experimental and computational study, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles were compared with carbocycles as liquid substrates for hydrogen release with heterogeneous catalysts. Heteroatom substitution, particularly by nitrogen, favours low temperature H-2 release; indoline was fully dehydrogenated in less than 30 min with Pd/C at 110 degrees C.