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.Binger, P.; Köster, R., "Sodium triethylhydroborate, sodium tetraethylborate, and sodium triethyl-1-propynylborate", Inorg. Synth. 1974, 15, 136-141. The trimethylborohydride analogue, which is assumed to be structurally similar to the triethylborohydride, adopts a tetrameric structure in toluene solution.Bell, N. A.; Coates, G. E.; Heslop, J. A., "Sodium hydridotrimethylboronate and its ether solvate. Study of hydridotrialkylboronates as reagents for the preparation of beryllium hydrides", J. Organomet. Chem. 1987, volume 329, 287-291. NaBHEt3 forms a dimeric adduct with TMEDA.
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