Tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate is a quaternary ammonium salt consisting of a positively charged tetraethylammonium cation and a negatively charged tetrafluoroborate anion. This compound is commonly used as a phase transfer catalyst in organic chemical reactions, facilitating the transfer of reactants between immiscible phases. It can also be used as a reagent for synthesizing various organic compounds, an electrolyte in electrochemical experiments, and a source of tetraethylammonium ions in biochemical and pharmacological research.
white crystals or crystalline powder
Tetraethylammonium Tetrafluoroborate is used in the preparation of some organic salts of fluoboric acids.
Dissolve the salt in hot MeOH, filter and add Et2O. It is soluble in ethylene chloride [Thompson & Kraus J Am Chem Soc 69 1016 1947, Wheeler & Sandstadt 77 2025 1955]. It has also been recrystallised three times from a mixture of ethyl acetate/hexane (5:1) or MeOH/pet ether, then stored at 95o for 48hours under vacuum [Henry & Faulkner J Am Chem Soc 107 3436 1985, Huang et al. Anal Chem 58 2889 1986]. It is used as a supporting electrolyte. [Beilstein 4 IV 333.]
