Abstract: Process for retarding the decomposition of an amine alane, said process comprising contacting an amine alane which is substantially free of zirconium, hafnium, niobium, uranium, vanadium, and chromium, with an effective amount of a decomposition retarding agent selected from the class consisting of O.sub.2, CO, nitrogen axides and alkyl nitrites.

Abstract: Process for retarding the decomposition of an amine alane, said process comprising contacting an amine alane which is substantially titanium-free, with an effective amount of a decomposition retarding agent selected from the class consisting of O.sub.2, CO, nitrogen oxides and alkyl nitrites.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of silane and a tertiary amine alane, said process comprising reacting:(a) an alkali metal aluminum tetrahydride having the formula MAlH.sub.4, wherein M is an alkali metal selected from the class consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium,(b) silicon tetrachloride, and(c) a complexing tertiary amine, such that the molar proportion of (a) to (b) to (c) is about 4:1:4.In this process, NaAlH.sub.4 and triethylamine are preferred reactants. The amine alane product can be reacted with additional silicon halide to prepare additional silane. This step can be conducted utilizing amine alane in the reaction mixture produced by the process above, and is preferably conducted using SiF.sub.4 as the silicon tetrahalide to produce AlF.sub.3 as a co-product. Both AlF.sub.3 and silane are valuable articles of commerce.

Abstract: Amine alane decomposition is catalyzed by titanium. This effect of titanium can be suppressed by treating it with a passivating agent such as air, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and alkyl nitrites. Such agents may be used (1) to treat titanium-containing NaAlH.sub.4 preparations to be used in preparing amine alanes, or (2) to treat amine alanes containing titanium as an impurity, e.g. in finely divided form. Furthermore, the reaction of NaAlH.sub.4, amine, and a halide substance to produce an amine alane can be conducted in the presence of a passivating agent.

Abstract: Tertiary phosphine oxides, such as triphenylphosphine oxide, are reduced to the corresponding phosphines in the presence of a trialkylaluminum/trialkyl borate reducing agent.

Abstract: Tertiary phosphine oxides, such as triphenylphosphine oxide, are reduced to the corresponding phosphines in the presence of a trialkylaluminum/boron trihalide reducing agent.

Abstract: A process for producing aluminum from raw aluminum silicate ore, especially kyanite, including comminuting a natural or raw mined kyanite ore to a desired particle size, beneficiating the ore to form a kyanite concentrate, compacting the concentrate along with a carbon reductant into agglomerates such as briquettes, pellets or other suitable form and to a desired size, carbothermically reducing the compacts in an electric arc furnace into an aluminum-silicon alloy, comminuting the aluminum-silicon alloy into a desired particle size, reacting the aluminum-silicon alloy particles with hydrogen and propylene to form tripropylaluminum and dipropylaluminum hydride, pyrolyzing or decomposing the tripropylaluminum and dipropylaluminum hydride in an oil medium or bath to form an aluminum powder, filtering, washing and drying the aluminum powder, and fluxing and casting the aluminum powder into pigs or other suitable form, thereby forming a substantially pure aluminum product.