Sodium triethylborohydride

Sodium triethylborohydride is an organoboron compound with the formula NaBH(C2H5)3. It is a colorless, pyrophoric solid that is commercially available in toluene solution, unlike the related LiBH(C2H5)3 which is typically sold as a THF solution. It is commonly used for the reductive activation of homogeneous catalysts, converting metal halides to hydrides. Sodium triethylborohydride has been prepared by treating a hot toluene slurry of sodium hydride with triethylborane. The trimethylborohydride analogue, which is assumed to be structurally similar to the triethylborohydride, adopts a tetrameric structure in toluene solution. NaBHEt3 forms a dimeric adduct with tmeda.