Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride

Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride

Radical substitution reactions can be used to remove functional groups from molecules. The hydrogenolysis of alkyl halides is one such reaction, where the weak Sn–H bond in tributyltin hydride reacts with alkyl halides to form alkanes. Here, the reagent Bu3SnH yields tributyltin halide as a byproduct.
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...

Acid Halides to Alcohols: LiAlH4 Reduction

Acid Halides to Alcohols: LiAlH₄ Reduction

Acid halides are reduced to alcohols in the presence of a strong reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride.
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...

Esters to Alcohols: Hydride Reductions

Esters to Alcohols: Hydride Reductions

Esters are reduced to primary alcohols when treated with a strong reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride. The reaction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent and proceeds via an aldehyde intermediate.
Lithium aluminum hydride is a source of hydride ions and functions as a nucleophile. The mechanism proceeds in three steps. Firstly, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the ester to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the carbonyl group re-forms,...

Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction

Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction

Reduction is a simple strategy to convert a carbonyl group to a hydroxyl group. The three major pathways to reduce carbonyls to alcohols are catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and borane reduction.
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Hydridoborate solid electrolytes: opportunities and challenges.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026

Same author

Rational design of a methanation reactor by neutron imaging.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2025

Same author

Overcoming the probing-depth dilemma in spectroscopic analyses of batteries with muon-induced X-ray emission (MIXE).

Journal of materials chemistry. A·2024

Same author

Laser-Stimulated Desorption of Hydrogen in Palladium for Dynamic Hydrogen Sorption Microanalysis.

Analytical chemistry·2024

Same author

Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Probing Fe Segregation during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2024

Same author

Catalytic Impedance Spectroscopy: Concept and Application on CO<sub>2</sub> Methanation.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Preparation of Large-area Vertical 2D Crystal Hetero-structures Through the Sulfurization of Transition Metal Films for Device Fabrication

Preparation of Large-area Vertical 2D Crystal Hetero-structures Through the Sulfurization of Transition Metal Films for Device Fabrication

Published on: November 28, 2017

Thin-film metal hydrides.

Arndt Remhof¹, Andreas Borgschulte

¹Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Department of Environment, Energy and Mobility, Div. Hydrogen and Energy, Uberlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. Arndt.Remhof@empa.ch

Chemphyschem : a European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry

|November 5, 2008

Summary

Controlled hydrogen doping of thin metal films tailors their electronic properties, enabling novel phenomena and applications. This research explores hydrogen-induced changes in niobium and yttrium thin films, focusing on electronic structure, morphology, and optical properties.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Hydrophobic Metal-Organic Frameworks via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Perfluoroalkanes for the Removal of Ammonia

Preparation of Hydrophobic Metal-Organic Frameworks via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Perfluoroalkanes for the Removal of Ammonia

Published on: October 10, 2013

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Preparation of Large-area Vertical 2D Crystal Hetero-structures Through the Sulfurization of Transition Metal Films for Device Fabrication

Preparation of Large-area Vertical 2D Crystal Hetero-structures Through the Sulfurization of Transition Metal Films for Device Fabrication

Published on: November 28, 2017

Preparation of Hydrophobic Metal-Organic Frameworks via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Perfluoroalkanes for the Removal of Ammonia

Preparation of Hydrophobic Metal-Organic Frameworks via Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Perfluoroalkanes for the Removal of Ammonia

Published on: October 10, 2013

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Surface Science

Background:

Medieval alchemy's dream of transmuting metals is unattainable.
Controlled hydrogen doping offers a pathway to tailor metal properties.
Thin metal films exhibit unique phenomena due to their morphology and surface characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the effects of hydrogen loading on thin niobium and yttrium films.
To investigate hydrogen-induced changes in electronic structure, morphology, and optical properties.
To explore the visualization and control of hydrogen diffusion and surface phenomena.

Main Methods:

Focus on thin films of niobium (transition metal) and yttrium (rare earth metal).
Analysis of hydrogen-induced changes in electronic band structure.
Morphological and optical property characterization.

Main Results:

Hydrogen doping significantly alters electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of thin metal films.
Observed phenomena include hydrogen switchable mirrors and visualization of solid-state diffusion.
Thin films serve as model systems for metal-insulator transitions and hydrogen diffusion studies.

Conclusions:

Thin metal hydride films are valuable for fundamental research and technological applications.
Hydrogen loading provides a versatile method for tuning material properties.
Niobium and yttrium thin films exemplify the potential of this approach.