Borohydride

A borohydride is a compound containing the tetrahydridoborate ion, BH₄−. Borohydride is a term also used for compounds containing BH_4-nX_n-, for example cyanoborohydride (X = CN, n = 1) and triethylborohydride (X= C₂H₅, n=3). Such compounds find wide use as reducing agents in organic synthesis. The most important borohydrides are lithium borohydride and sodium borohydride, but other salts are well known (see Table). Tetrahydroborates are also of academic and industrial interest in inorganic chemistry.