Take The Danger Out Of Reduction Chemistry

Metallic sodium and potassium, as well as their alloys, are useful for their strong chemical reduction properties. However, their instability when exposed to oxygen, and their violent reaction with water is a severe fire hazard in the laboratory and in production facilities. Chemists have tried to control this reactivity by dispersing these metals on inert solids or in liquid ammonia, but have not met with great success on the industrial scale.

SiGNa Chemistry's stabilized alkali metal-silica gel powders (M-SG) transform sodium, potassium, and their alloys into free-flowing, non-pyrophoric powders capable of performing reduction chemistries in a safe, streamlined process. These powders accelerate reaction kinetics and reduce the costs of critical drug development and industrial chemistry while replacing hazardous conditions, such as the need for liquid ammonia, cryogenic temperatures, and expensive handling equipment, with sustainable, "green" chemical pathways.

SiGNa's alkali metal-silica gel have metal loadings up to 60 mol% and are available in 3 varieties:

• Stage 0 M-SG: Pyrophoric, free-flowing, shiny black powder capable of reducing Teflon® in its solid state. This material is easily handled under Nitrogen.
• Stage I M-SG: Dry air-stable, free-flowing, non-pyrophoric black powder that retains the reactivity equivalent of its parent alkali metal.
• Stage II M-SG: Air-stable, free-flowing, non-pyrophoric black powder that contains nano-crystalline domains of metal silicide. The reactivity is strong enough to reduce simple molecules and water.

View SiGNa Products by the reactions they perform.

Typical Reactions

• Birch Reduction
• C-C Bonding
• Deprotection
• Phosphine Reduction