The addition of sodium borohydride to an aqueous solution of Nickel(II)Acetate forms a precipitate of Nickel Boride (Ni2B, P-1 Nickel) which is at least as active as Raney Nickel for catalytic hydrogenation at 1 atm.
Catalytic Hydrogenation. V. The Reaction of Sodium Borohydride with Aqueous Nickel Salts.
P-1 Nickel Boride, a Convenient, Highly Active Nickel Hydrogenation Catalyst
Charles Allan Brown
J. Org. Chem. 56, 1900-1904 (1970) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/nickel.boride.cat-hyd-1atm.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/nickel.boride.cat-hyd-1atm.pdf)
Abstract
The reaction of sodium borohydride with aqueous solutions of nickel salts immediately produces a finely divided black precipitate. This material (P-1 nickel) is a highly active catalyst for atmospheric pressure hydrogenations, more active than Raney nickel. The hydrogenations of a variety of alkenes have been examined and all but the most hindered double bonds were reduced successfully. Certain dienes were reduced cleanly to single olefinic products. P-1 nickel has marked advantages over Raney nickel: it is not pyrophoric; it is readily prepared in situ; it is highly reproducible.
Synthetically useful reactions with metal boride and aluminide catalysts
Chem. Rev. 86, 763-780 (1986) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/metal.boride.review.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/metal.boride.review.pdf)
This paper covers:
- The making of P1- and P2-Ni2B
- Hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes
- Reduction of arenes
- Reduction of halides
- Reduction of nitriles
- Reduction of nitro compounds
- Reduction of other nitrogenous functional groups such as oximes, amides, azoxy and nitroso
- Deoxygenation reactions
- Desulfurization