Sodium triacetoxyborohydride
Sodium triacetoxyborohydride, also known as sodium triacetoxyhydroborate, commonly abbreviated STAB, is a chemical compound with the formula Na(CH3COO)3BH. Like other borohydrides, it is used as a reducing agent in organic synthesis. This colourless salt is prepared by protonolysis of sodium borohydride with acetic acid:[1]
- NaBH4 + 3 HO2CCH3 → NaBH(O2CCH3)3 + 3 H2
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Names | |
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Other names
NaBH(OAc)3; STAB; STABH; Sodium triacetoxyhydroborate | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.115.747 |
PubChem CID |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
Chemical formula |
C6H10BNaO6 |
Molar mass | 211.94 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | White powder |
Density | 1.20 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 116 to 120 °C (241 to 248 °F; 389 to 393 K) decomposes |
Solubility in water |
decomposition |
Hazards | |
Safety data sheet | External MSDS |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | ![]()
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3
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Other anions |
Sodium cyanoborohydride |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
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Infobox references | |
Sodium triacetoxyborohydride is a milder reducing agent than sodium borohydride or even sodium cyanoborohydride. It reduces aldehydes but not most ketones. It is especially suitable for reductive aminations of aldehydes and ketones.[2][3]
However, unlike sodium cyanoborohydride, the triacetoxyborohydride hydrolyzes readily, nor is it compatible with methanol. It reacts only slowly with ethanol and isopropanol and can be used with these.[3]

NaBH(OAc)3 may also be used for reductive alkylation of secondary amines with aldehyde-bisulfite adducts. [4]
See also
- Sodium cyanoborohydride - a slightly stronger reductant, but amenable to protic solvents
- Sodium borohydride - a stronger, cheaper reductant
References
- Gordon W. Gribble, Ahmed F. Abdel-Magid, "Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride" Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, 2007, John Wiley & Sons.doi:10.1002/047084289X.rs112.pub2
- Abdel-Magid, A. F.; Carson, K. G.; Harris, B. D.; Maryanoff, C. A.; Shah, R. D. (1996). "Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones with Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride. Studies on Direct and Indirect Reductive Amination Procedures1". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 61 (11): 3849–3862. doi:10.1021/jo960057x. PMID 11667239.
- Abdel-Magid, A. F.; Mehrman, S. J. (2006). "A Review on the Use of Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride in the Reductive Amination of Ketones and Aldehydes". Organic Process Research & Development. 10 (5): 971. doi:10.1021/op0601013.
- Pandit, C. R.; Mani, N. S. (2009). "Expedient reductive amination of aldehyde bisulfite adducts". Synthesis (23): 4032–4036.