I have been researching the Borohydride reduction and have come up with conflicting reports.
Labtop states that the conditions for good yields must be very anhydrous (silicagel etc.).
Terbium states that scrupulously anhydrous conditions are not essential to good yields.
Barium then goes on to post in
Post 328680
(Barium: "A really wet reductive alkylation", Novel Discourse) that aqueous solutions may be used with ~ 90% w/w yields.
These are all very respected and credible bees. This is what has led to my confusion.
Is it that Barium employs Toluene, which provides azeotropic properties to the equation, and therefore limits available H2O, that his yields are good?
If so, Would an even more azeotropic solvent (e.g. Dimethylsulfoxide or others) allow for even better yields?
Are anhydrous conditions essential?
Some bees that I have asked advice from, via P.M. (thanks again
), have given me advice that also conflicts.
Can I have some advice on this issue?
Thanks, abolt