Benzophenone reacts with sodium borohydride in a methanol solution. The result is diphenylmethanol and a secondary reactant. The reduction starts with breaking the benzophenone carbon-oxygen double bond. The carbon attracts a hydrogen atom from borohydride, and the oxygen attracts a hydrogen atom from methanol.
Hydrogen to Central Carbon
Central carbon of benzophenone bonds with one hydrogen from borohydride (BH4), while the benzophenone oxygen briefly exists as an anion, which is a negatively charged atom.
Benzophenone Oxygen to "OH"
The anionic oxygen (O-) attracts a second hydrogen atom from the carbon end of CH3OH. The main product, diphenylmethanol, differs from the original by the presence of an “OH” functional group.
Other Reaction Products
When benzophenone reduces to diphenylmethanol, leftover products include the CH2OH and NaBH3 species. The energetic CH2OH and NaBH3 quickly bond to give (CH2OH)H3B-Na+. This complex is the main second product of benzophenone reduction.
Reactant Ratios
In life, four benzophenone molecules react with each BH4 complex. Since four benzophenone molecules each attract a hydrogen atom from the “BH4” hydrogen donor, four “CH2OH”s bond with each boron (B) atom. Realistically, the secondary product is (CH2OH)4B-Na+ and four diphenylmethanol molecules. Focusing on one benzophenone molecule at a time is helpful for explaining and understanding reaction steps.
References
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I am applying to be an Expert focusing on sci/tech/economic topics. The above "blog" link was my overall blog. From it, I would like to highlight some choice entries reviewing Ian Stewart's "Flatterland", a response and "supplement" to Edwin Abbott's classic "Flatland -- A Romance Of Many Dimensions" 1. http://numbersandpatterns.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/flatterland-review-1/ 2. http://numbersandpatterns.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/flatterland-review-2/ 3. http://numbersandpatterns.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/flatterland-review-2-5-fractal-afterthought/ 4. http://numbersandpatterns.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/flatterland-review-3/
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