Interaction | Reaction | Process     Data Page

Sodium tetrahydridoborate(III) reduces aldehydes to primary alcohols. This reaction can be carried out under aqueous conditions.

The intermediate alkoxide ion, R-CH2-O–, is protonated to the primary alcohol by the solvent system.

Overall, the reaction involves the addition of H– and H+ across the C=O double bond.
  +  
NaBH4
  +  
2
[H]
         
Reactant Page Go To Go To
Aldehyde (AS/A2 generic)     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Sodium borohydride     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Hydrogen delivered equivalents     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Primary alcohol (AS/A2 generic)     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming

Interaction, Reaction, Process defined as:
Addition
Addition: Nucleophilic
British A-Level Chemistry: A2
Redox
Reduction: Of Substrate By Reagent

© Mark R. Leach 1999 –

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