The effect of substitution on the utility of piperidines and octahydroindoles for reversible hydrogen storage

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/b718209k

Substituted piperidines and octahydroindoles are compared in terms of their usability as reversible organic hydrogen storage liquids for hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Theoretical Gaussian calculations indicate which structural features are likely to lower the enthalpy of dehydrogenation. Experimental results show that attaching electron donating or conjugated substituents to the piperidine ring greatly increases the rate of catalytic dehydrogenation, with the greatest rates being observed with 4-aminopiperidine and piperidine-4-carboxamide. Undesired side reactions were observed with some compounds such as alkyl transfer reactions during the dehydrogenation of 4-dimethylaminopiperidine, C-O and C-N cleavage reactions during hydrogenation and/or subsequent dehydrogenation of 4-alkoxy and 4-amino indoles, and disproportionation during the hydrogenation of 4-aminopyridine. The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.