Facile reaction of potassium hydride with trialkylboranes, a convenient general synthesis of simple and hindered potassium trialkylborohydrides under exceptionally mild conditions

The reaction of potassium hydride in tetrahydrofuran with simple and hindered trialkylboranes proceeds readily at 25°C (<0.5 h) with the formation of the corresponding trialkylborohydrides. Even some highly hindered trialkylboranes react smoothly under these conditions. This reaction provides a convenient synthesis in high yields of such hindered and highly hindered potassium trialkylborohydride under very mild reaction conditions. © 1978.