reduction with NaBH₄
What reduction with NaBH₄ means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of reduction with NaBH₄
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Reference: OCR
The hydride ion H⁻ attacks the carbonyl carbon, the π bond breaks to give an alkoxide, and protonation gives a primary alcohol from an aldehyde or a secondary alcohol from a ketone.
Sodium tetrahydridoborate(III), NaBH₄, in aqueous solution supplies hydride ion, H⁻, which has a lone pair and a negative charge and therefore behaves as a nucleophile.
Topics that use reduction with NaBH₄
- Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Carbonyl compounds (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- contrast with ketones
- Fehling's solution
- Oxidation of aldehydes
- Tollens' reagent
- 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine test
- 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone
- achiral exceptions
- Acidified dichromate(VI) as oxidising agent
Using reduction with NaBH₄ in the exam
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