The Law Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 I seem to recall there is a very important difference between these two in terms of reductive-strength. It doesn't mention this in the TPR book, so I might have made it up - but wanted to see if I was right, and if so, what this difference was! Gosh, been too long since I did orgo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemesis Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 I seem to recall there is a very important difference between these two in terms of reductive-strength. It doesn't mention this in the TPR book, so I might have made it up - but wanted to see if I was right, and if so, what this difference was! Gosh, been too long since I did orgo! Lithium aluminium hydride is widely used in organic chemistry as a reducing agent. It is more powerful than the related reagent sodium borohydride due to the weaker Al-H bond compared to the B-H bond. Unlike the powerful reducing agent lithium aluminium hydride, sodium borohydride typically will not reduce esters, amides, or carboxylic acids. (This is the important distinction you need to be aware of for the MCAT.) Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_aluminium_hydride http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_borohydride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith_015 Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 LiAlH4 is dangerously reactive as a reducing agent. NaBH4 is a reducing agent as well, but is much less reactive. Source: a good university education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Law Posted January 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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