Title: Sodium Borohydride
CAS Registry Number: 16940-66-2
CAS Name: Sodium tetrahydroborate
Molecular Formula: BH4Na
Molecular Weight: 37.83
Percent Composition: B 28.58%, H 10.66%, Na 60.77%
Line Formula: NaBH4
Literature References: Prepn: H. I. Schlesinger et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 205 (1953); H. C. Brown et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79, 5400 (1957). Reviews: R. M. Adams, A. R. Siedle, in Boron, Metallo-boron Compounds, and Boranes (Interscience, New York, 1964) 765 pp; B. D. James, M. G. H. Walbridge, Prog. Inorg. Chem. 11, 99-231 (1970).
Properties: Hygroscopic, cubic crystals forming a dihydrate, mp 36-37°. The anhydr material (d 1.074) is stable in dry air to 300°; dec slowly at 400° and rapidly at 500°. Supports combustion. Soly (g/100 g) in water at 25°: 55; at 60°: 88.5; liq ammonia at 25°: 104; ethylenediamine at 75°: 22; morpholine at 25°: 1.4; pyridine at 25°: 3.1; methanol at 20°: 16.4 (reacts); ethanol at 20°: 4.0 (reacts slowly); tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol at 20°: 14.0 (reacts slowly); tetrahydrofuran at 20°: 0.1; diglyme at 25°: 5.5; dimethylformamide at 20°: 18.0.
Melting point: mp 36-37°
Density: d 1.074
Use: Reducing agent for aldehydes, ketones and Schiff bases in nonaqueous solvents. Also reduces acids, esters, acid chlorides, disulfides, nitriles, inorganic anions. Further used to generate diborane, as foaming agent, as scavenger for traces of aldehyde, ketones and peroxides in organic chemicals. |