Sodium borohydride

Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) is an inorganic salt that donates hydride ions and is used chiefly to reduce carbonyl compounds and other substrates.

Hydride transfer: A reaction step in which hydrogen moves between molecules with both bonding electrons. Sodium borohydride reduces substrates by transferring hydrogen as hydride.
Reductive amination: A reaction that forms an amine by reducing an imine or iminium ion, often generated from a carbonyl compound and an amine. Sodium borohydride can serve in this reaction, though specialized derivatives often improve selectivity.
Borohydride: An anion containing boron bonded to hydrogen, especially BH₄⁻. The BH₄⁻ ion is the reactive hydride-bearing part of sodium borohydride.
Borane: A boron–hydrogen compound or reagent, including borane complexes used in reduction and hydroboration. Borane reagents reduce some functional groups that sodium borohydride leaves untouched.
Chemical safety: Practices and principles for preventing injury and exposure during chemical work. Sodium borohydride is corrosive and can release flammable hydrogen when exposed to water or acids.
Carbonyl reduction: Conversion of a carbonyl group into an alcohol or other reduced product. Aldehydes and ketones are its characteristic organic targets.
Imine: A compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond, commonly formed from a carbonyl compound and an amine. Imine reduction is one route by which borohydride chemistry can produce amines.
Boron: A chemical element with atomic number 5, notable for forming electron-deficient compounds and covalent networks. Boron forms the tetrahedral BH₄⁻ anion at the center of the reagent's chemistry.
Diisobutylaluminum hydride: A bulky aluminum hydride reagent used for selective reductions, including ester-to-aldehyde conversion. It offers reductions and selectivity patterns different from sodium borohydride.
Hydrogen: A colorless chemical element with atomic number 1, occurring as diatomic gas under ordinary conditions. Its release during borohydride decomposition creates fire and pressure hazards.

Linked from 8 pages