Hydrogen cleavage by solid-phase frustrated Lewis pairs

We report the direct synthesis of a solid-phase frustrated Lewis pair (s-FLP) by combining a silica-supported Lewis acid ( SiOB(C6F5)(2), s-BCF) with a Lewis base (tri-tert-butylphosphine, (Bu3P)-Bu-t) to give [ SiOB(C6F5)(2)][(Bu3P)-Bu-t]. Reaction of this s-FLP with H-2 under mild conditions led to heterolytic H-H bond cleavage and the formation of [ SiOB(H)(C6F5)(2)][(Bu3PH)-Bu-t].