Why is lithium aluminum hydride a stronger reducing agent than many other compounds?
Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH) is a powerful reducing agent used extensively in chemistry to reduce various organic compounds, such as converting carboxylic acids to alcohols.123
Its effectiveness as a reducing agent is primarily due to the presence of the tetrahydridoaluminate anion (AlH). In this compound, the aluminum-hydrogen bond is highly hydridic, meaning it is exceptionally capable of donating hydride ions (H) to other species.4
While both borohydrides (such as NaBH) and aluminohydrides (such as LiAlH) are well-known reducing agents, their chemical stabilities differ. The boron compounds are generally more thermally and chemically stable than the aluminum compounds. Because the aluminum-based compounds are less stable, they are more reactive, which contributes to their status as stronger reducing agents compared to many other compounds.4