Interaction | Reaction | Process     Data Page

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

The intermediate alkoxide ion, R2CHO–, is protonated to the secondary alcohol by the solvent system.

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