Improved hydrogen generation from formic acid

The ruthenium-catalyzed generation of hydrogen from formic acid was investigated in the presence of amines and halide additives. While amidines and halide additives increase the production of hydrogen with [RuCl2(p-cyrnene)](2), >330 mL hydrogen/h is generated in the presence of [RuCl2(benzene)](2)/dppe and N,N-dimethyl-n-hexylamine. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.