Sodium Borohydride

[16940-66-2] BH4Na (MW 37.84) InChI = 1S/BH4.Na/h1H4;/q-1;+1 InChIKey = YOQDYZUWIQVZSF-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones, and many other functional groups in the presence of additives1) Physical Data: mp 400 °C; d 1.0740 g cm−3. Solubility: sol H2O (stable at pH 14, rapidly decomposes at neutral or acidic pH); sol MeOH (13 g/100 mL)1b, and EtOH (3.16 g/100 mL),1b but decomposes to borates; sol polyethylene glycol (PEG),2a sol and stable in i-PrOH (0.37 g/100 mL)3 and diglyme (5.15 g/100 mL);1b insol ether;1b slightly sol THF.1c Form Supplied in: colorless solid in powder or pellets; supported on silica gel or on basic alumina; 0.5 M solution in diglyme; 2.0 M solution in triglyme; 12 wt % solution in 14 M aqueous NaOH. Typical impurities are sodium methoxide and sodium hydroxide. Analysis of Reagent Purity: can be assessed by hydrogen evolution.4 Purification: crystallize from diglyme3 or isopropylamine.4 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: harmful if inhaled or absorbed through skin. It is decomposed rapidly and exothermically by water, especially if acid solutions are used. This decomposition forms toxic diborane gas and flammable/explosive hydrogen gas, and thus must be carried out under a hood. Solutions in DMF can undergo runaway thermal reactions, resulting in violent decompositions.5 The addition of supported noble metal catalysts to solutions of NaBH4 can result in ignition of liberated hydrogen gas.5