The interconversion between THF·B3H7 and B3H8−: an efficient synthetic method for MB3H8 (M = Li and Na)

An efficient synthetic method for MB3H8 (M = Li and Na) has been developed with improved yields on the basis of the investigation of the interconversion between THF·B3H7 and corresponding MB3H8. The mechanism was tentatively proposed based on the understanding of the nucleophilicity of the B–H bonding pair electrons.