Lithium aluminium hydride
Lithium aluminum hydride is an inorganic compound. Its chemical formula is LiAlH4. It is commonly abbreviated as LAH. It is a grey solid. It was discovered by Finholt, Bond and Schlesinger in 1947.[1]
Properties
Lithium aluminium hydride is a colorless solid, but commercial samples are usually gray because of contamination.[2] It can be purified by recrystallization from diethyl ether.[2] It reacts violently with water.[2] Some commercial samples contain mineral oil to stop reactions with moisture in the atmosphere.[2]
Uses
Lithium aluminum hydride is used in organic chemistry as a reducing agent.[2] Lithium aluminum hydride is most commonly used for the reduction of esters and carboxylic acids to primary alcohols.[3]
Lithium Aluminium Hydride Media
Scanning Electron Microscope image of LAH powder
The crystal structure of LAH; Li atoms are purple and AlH
4 tetrahedra are tan.
X-ray powder diffraction pattern of as-received Li[AlH
4]. The asterisk designates an impurity, possibly LiCl.
Differential scanning calorimetry of as-received Li[AlH
4].
Volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen storage densities of different hydrogen storage*methods. Metal hydrides are represented with squares and complex hydrides with triangles (including LiAlH4).*Reported values for hydrides are excluding tank weight. DOE FreedomCAR targets are including tank weight.
References
- ↑ Finholt, A. E.. Lithium Aluminum Hydride, Aluminum Hydride and Lithium Gallium Hydride, and Some of their Applications in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry 1 (in en). Journal of the American Chemical Society 69 (5) (1947). p. 1199–1203. doi:10.1021/ja01197a061.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Encyclopaedia of science & technology (2004). Claremont: New Africa Education. ISBN 1-86928-384-8. OCLC 238823160.
- ↑ Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure α-N,N-Dibenzylamino Aldehydes: S-2-(N,N-Dibenzylamino)-3-Phenylpropanal (in en). www.orgsyn.org. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
