Facile Synthesis of Aminodiborane and Inorganic Butane Analogue NH3BH2NH2BH3

A new ambient-temperature, catalyst-free reaction between ammonia borane and tetrahydrofuran borane produces aminodiborane via the formation of a dihydrogen bond and subsequent molecular hydrogen elimination. The facile synthesis of aminodiborane will make this long-sought active chemical reagent readily available for both inorganic and organic reactions. From aminodiborane, an inorganic butane analogue, NH3BH2NH2BH3, was prepared, and its single-crystal structure displayed a gauche rather than an anti form conformation.