Sodium cyanoborohydride

• Natriumtrihydridocyanoborat
• Borch reagent

White crystalline solid

Fixed

1.2 g · cm -3 ( 20 ° C)

241-243 ° C

Decomposition

Very well in water (2100 g · l-1 at 20 ° C) ( slow decomposition)

Risk

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Sodium, also called Borch reagent is a very toxic chemical compound which is present at room temperature as a white solid. It is a modification of the sodium borohydride, in which a hydrogen atom has been replaced by a cyano group.

Properties

With strong acids sodium reacts with evolution of hydrogen cyanide ( hydrocyanic acid ). In the presence of water, it slowly hydrolyzed to form elemental hydrogen.

Use

Sodium cyanoborohydride is used as reducing agents for the reductive amination. It is mainly used for imines as a mild reducing agent. In the presence of aldehydes or ketones of sodium cyanoborohydride is suitable to reduce imines selectively.