Highly reactive, pyrophoric forms of magnesium with specific surface areas of 20-109 m2/g (Mg') can be generated by the dehydrogenation of catalytically prepared magnesium hy- dride (MgH;) or by decomposition of magnesium anthracene. 3 THF (4). The decompositon of 4, with recovery of anthracene and THF, may be accomplished both thermally and by ultrasound in an organic solvent (toluene, n-heptane) or ther-mally in the solid state in ...