Metal‐free Catalytic Olefin Hydrogenation: Low‐Temperature H₂ Activation by Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Weak nucleophiles for strong activation: The reversible activation of dihydrogen by an electron-deficient phosphine, (C6F5)PPh2, in combination with the Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 at −80 °C was accomplished. The catalytic hydrogenation of olefins proceeds through protonation and subsequent hydride attack. Electron-deficient phosphines and diarlyamines were demonstrated to be viable Lewis bases for the reaction, thus allowing catalyst loadings of 10 to 5 mol %.