Borohydride

Borohydride refers to the anion BH₄ and its salts. Borohydride is also the term used for compounds containing BH_4-nX_n, for example cyanoborohydride (B(CN)H₃) and triethylborohydride (B(C₂H₅)₃H). 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.