MgH2 was prepared at normal pressure simply by decomposing Mg anthracene thermally under vacuum and then hydrogenating the resulting activated Mg. In this process, Mg is activated while anthracene can be recycled in principle without consuming any reagent. The hydrogenation behavior of the activated Mg can be modified by doping the Mg anthracene with transition metal compounds before decomposition The doped Mg can take up H even at 90?

Key words: MAGNESIUM, REACTION KINETICS, HYDROGENATION, CYCLOPENTADIENE P, ACTIVATION, DOPE, HYDRIDES, TITANIUM COMPLEX, MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS, ORGANO TRANSITION METAL COMPLEX