Facile heterolytic cleavage of dihydrogen by phosphines and boranes

The facile heterolytic cleavage of [H.sub.2] can be achieved at room temperature by the cooperative action of Lewis acidic boranes and Lewis basic phosphines. The steric congestion has precluded quenching of the acid and base via adduct formation, allowing consecutive reactions of the Lewis acidic and Lewis basic centers with [H.sub.2].