Chemical Properties
Clear colourless to light amber solution. Miscible with most organic solvents; immiscible with water.
Uses
Reagent in organic syntheses blocking agent and radical initiator.
Uses
It is used in mixtures with triethylaluminumas hypergolic igniters in rocket propulsionsystems.
Uses
Triethylborane reacted with 8-hydroxyquinoline to synthesize three 8--?hydroxyquinolato (q) boron compounds B(C2H5)?2q (1)?, BPh2q (2)?, and B(2-?naph)?2q (3).
Synthesis Reference(s)
The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 51, p. 427, 1986
DOI: 10.1021/jo00354a002
Hazard
Flammable, dangerous fire risk, ignites
spontaneously in air. Reacts violently with water
and oxidizing materials. Toxic by inhalation, strong
irritant.
Health Hazard
Triethylboron is a toxic substance. The toxicsymptoms from chronic exposure to thiscompound are not reported. Skin contact canburn tissues.
Fire Hazard
Triethylborane is a pyrophoric substance,
igniting spontaneously on exposure to air,
chlorine, or bromine. Explosion may result
when mixed with oxygen. Contact with
ozone, peroxides and other oxidants can
cause explosion. Its concentrated solutions
can be pyrophoric. Flash point of 1 M
solution in hexane is －23°C ( －9°F), while
that in tetrahydrofuran is －17°C (1°F)
(Aldrich 1996). It decomposes explosively
when mixed with water.
Flammability and Explosibility
Pyrophoric
Safety Profile
Poison by ingestion and
intraperitoneal routes. Mildly toxic by
inhalation. Animal experiments show that
the vapor is a poison which causes
pulmonary irritation and convulsions. A very
dangerous fire hazard by spontaneous
chemical reaction with oxichzers.
Spontaneously flammable in air. Explodes in
oxygen atmospheres. Hypergolic reaction
with triethylaluminum. Ignites on contact
with chlorine, bromine, or other halogens.
Will react with water or steam to produce
toxic and flammable vapors. To fight fire,
do NOT use halogenated extinguishing
agents. When heated to decomposition or
upon contact with air it emits toxic acrid
smoke and irritating fumes. See also
BORANES and BORON COMPOUNDS.
Purification Methods
It distils at 56-57o/220mm. It can also be purified via its ammonia addition complex which is distilled in a high vacuum, decomposed with dry HCl, and the Et3B is distilled out. It is commercially available as a 15% solution in hexane or as 1M solution in hexane. [Brown J Am Chem Soc 67 376 1945, Bamford et al. J Chem Soc 471 1946, Lin et al. J Organomet Chem 312 277 1986, Beilstein 4 III 1957, 4 IV 4359.]
