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Aluminium borohydride

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Aluminium borohydride
Structural formula of the aluminium borohydride molecule
Names
IUPAC name Aluminium borohydride
Other names Aluminum borohydride, aluminium tetrahydroborate, aluminum tetrahydroborate
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
InChI
  • InChI=1S/Al.3BH4/h;3*1H4/q+3;3*-1Key: LNJYEMMRSAGORU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/Al.3BH4/h;3*1H4/q+3;3*-1Key: LNJYEMMRSAGORU-UHFFFAOYAC
SMILES
  • ...
Properties
Chemical formula AlB3H12
Molar mass 71.51 g·mol
Appearance colorless liquid
Melting point −64.5 °C (−84.1 °F; 208.7 K)
Boiling point 44.5 °C (112.1 °F; 317.6 K)
Solubility in water reacts
Hazards
Flash point Spontaneously ignites
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa). checkY verify (what is  ?) Infobox references
Chemical compound

Aluminium borohydride, also known as aluminium tetrahydroborate, (in American English, aluminum borohydride and aluminum tetrahydroborate, respectively) is the chemical compound with the formula Al(BH4)3. It is a volatile pyrophoric liquid which is used as rocket fuel, an additive in jet fuel, and as a reducing agent in laboratories. Unlike most other metal–borohydrides, which are ionic structures, aluminium borohydride is a covalent compound.

Preparation

Aluminium borohydride is formed by the reaction between sodium borohydride with aluminium chloride:

3 NaBH4 + AlCl3 → Al(BH4)3 + 3 NaCl

or as the non-pyrophoric tetrahydrofuran (THF) adduct, by the analogous reaction of calcium borohydride and aluminium chloride in THF:

3 Ca(BH4)2 + 2 AlCl3 → 3 CaCl2 + 2 Al(BH4)3

Reactions

Like all borohydrides, this compound is a reducing agent and hydride donor. It reacts with water to give elemental hydrogen gas, and reduces carboxylic esters, aldehydes, and ketones to alcohols.

References

  1. Lide, David R. (1998). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 4–39. ISBN 0-8493-0594-2.
  2. ^ J. Kollonitsch & O. Fuchs (1955). "Preparation of Aluminium Borohydride and its Applications in Organic Reductions". Nature. 176 (4492): 1081. doi:10.1038/1761081a0.
  3. Miwa, K.; Ohba, N.; Towata, S.; Nakamori, Y.; Züttel, A.; Orimo, S. (2007). "First-principles study on thermodynamical stability of metal borohydrides: Aluminum borohydride Al(BH4)3". J. Alloys Compd. 446–447: 310–314. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.11.140.
  4. ^ Perry, Dale L.; Phillips, Sidney L. (1995). Handbook of Inorganic Compounds. CRC Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN 0-8493-8671-3. Retrieved 2007-12-09.

Further reading

  • Fletcher, Edward; Foster, Hampton; Straight, David (1959). "Aluminum Borohydride and Mixtures with Hydrocarbons in Jet Engine Combustor Ignition". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry. 51 (11): 1389. doi:10.1021/ie50599a044.
  • Hinkamp, James B.; Hnizda, Vincent (1955). "Aluminum Borohydride Preparation". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry. 47 (8): 1560. doi:10.1021/ie50548a032.
Aluminium compounds
Al(I)
Organoaluminium(I) compoundsAl(C5(CH3)5)
Al(II)
Al(III)
Alums
Organoaluminium(III) compounds
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