University of California

Joseph C Fuller

Christian T Goralski

Bakthan Singaram

Gary B Fisher

John Harrison

The present invention relates to novel, powerful reducing agents, lithium aminoborohydrides which are prepared by addition of BH.sub.3 .cndot.THF to the corresponding dialkylamine at 25.degree. C. to give the intermediate amineborane complex. Subsequent deprotonation by strong base, e.g. n-BuLi, yields the aminoborohydride quantitatively. Lithium aminoborohydrides are powerful reducing agents, comparable in strength to lithium aluminum hydride. The activity is determined by the dialkylamine. Lithium pyrrolidinoborohydride has unique activity and selectivity in its reducing properties. Esters, lactones and anhydrides are reduced cleanly at 25.degree. C. to give the corresponding alcohols, while carboxylic acids are not reduced. Test reductions show that lithium pyrrolidinoborohydride is also capable of reducing a wide range of functional groups including amides, epoxides, oximes, nitriles and halides.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Joseph C Fuller