What Is The Synthesis Pathway Of Libh4?

The synthesis pathway of LiBH4 (lithium borohydride) involves the reaction between lithium hydride (LiH) and boron trifluoride etherate (BF3.OEt2) in diethyl ether solvent, followed by purification and isolation steps.

The reaction proceeds as follows:

4LiH + BF3.OEt2 → LiBH4 + 2LiOEt

The resulting LiBH4 product is typically isolated by removing the solvent under vacuum and then recrystallizing from a nonpolar solvent such as toluene or heptane. Additional purification steps may include washing with diethyl ether or THF (tetrahydrofuran) to remove impurities.

It's worth noting that LiBH4 is highly reactive and requires careful handling under inert conditions to prevent degradation. Therefore, the synthesis process typically takes place under anaerobic or argon-purged conditions using specialized equipment such as a Schlenk line.