Nomenclature
CAS number: 16940-66-2
Tetrahydroborate (1-) sodium (1:1).
BH
4Na; mol wt 37.83.
B 28.58%, H 10.66%, Na 60.77%.
NaBH
4.
Description and 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°. Dangerous when wet. 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; liquid
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.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.