Sodium borohydride

Product Overview

Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), also known as sodium tetrahydridoborate, is one of the most versatile and widely used reducing agents in modern chemistry. As a white crystalline powder with high purity and selective reducing properties, it has become an indispensable reagent in pharmaceutical synthesis, organic chemistry, and industrial manufacturing.

With a molecular weight of 37.83 and CAS number 16940-66-2, sodium borohydride offers unique advantages: it reduces aldehydes and ketones to alcohols under mild conditions while leaving esters, carboxylic acids, and nitriles largely unaffected. This chemoselectivity makes it a preferred choice for complex multi-step syntheses.

Key Applications

• Pharmaceutical Industry: Key reducing agent in API synthesis, including antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and anti-cancer compounds
• Organic Synthesis: Selective reduction of aldehydes and ketones to primary and secondary alcohols
• Pulp & Paper: Bleaching agent and delignification reagent in kraft pulp processing
• Water Treatment: Recovery of precious metals from wastewater; reduction of heavy metal ions
• Textile Industry: Dye intermediate synthesis and bleaching of natural fibers
• Electronics: Electroless nickel plating and semiconductor surface treatment
• Perfume & Fragrance: Synthesis of fragrance compounds and essential oil intermediates

Product Features

• High Chemoselectivity: Reduces aldehydes and ketones without affecting esters, amides, or carboxylic acids
• Mild Reaction Conditions: Operates effectively at room temperature in protic solvents such as water, methanol, and ethanol
• High Purity Grades Available: Industrial grade (≥96%), pharmaceutical grade (≥98%), and electronics grade
• Excellent Solubility: Highly soluble in water and lower alcohols, facilitating easy reaction setup
• Hydrogen Generation: Releases hydrogen gas upon hydrolysis, useful in hydrogen fuel cell applications
• Cost-Effective: Lower cost compared to alternative reducing agents like lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄)
• Safe Handling: Significantly safer than LiAlH₄; does not react violently with protic solvents under controlled conditions

Packaging & Supply

Available in multiple packaging options: 25kg fiber drums, 500kg jumbo bags, and customized packaging per customer requirements. Stored in sealed containers in cool, dry environments away from moisture and acids to ensure product stability.