The Reducing Capabilities of Diisobutylaluminum Borodhydride
Physical and Biological Sciences
Chemistry
In synthetic organic chemistry there is an ongoing quest for modern reagents in the field of reductions. The Singaram lab has synthesized a binary hydride reducing agent, diisobutylaluminum borohydride [(iBu)2AlBH4], through a one to one equivalent reaction between diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL) and borane dimethyl sulfide (BMS). The capabilities of this borohydride have been shown to reduce nitriles to amines with a 94% yield and esters to alcohols with a 93% yield. These reactions occur at ambient conditions and are completed in 1 hour. Products are obtained through simple acid-base extraction and the isolation of the amine and alcohol are achieved without column chromatography.
