Reductions with sulfurated borohydrides. III. Borohydrides incorporating selenium and tellurium

Abstract

The reactions of selenium and tellurium with lithium, sodium, potassium, and tetramethylammonium borohydrides have been examined, using the hydrogen evolution as a measurement of the replacement of hydrogen by the chalcogen on the borohydride anion. Of all the possible reactions, only the combination of sodium borohydride with tellurium led to a stable compound, easily isolated and of definite stoichiometry. This new borohydride, NaBH 2 Te 3 offers interesting possibilities as a reducer.