Full Spectrum Reduction Chemistry
Polar - Intermediate - Non Polar Systems
EXPERTISE RUNS DEEP
Chematek has been at the heart of reduction chemistry since the 1980s, when we introduced sodium borohydride to Italy's pharmaceutical sector — then one of the world's foremost centres of chemical innovation. That experience established us not merely as a supplier, but as innovators and thought leaders in reduction chemistry. A reputation four decades in the making.
INTELLIGENCE BUILT OVER DECADES
Thousands of industrial case studies, a comprehensive reaction database, and a dedicated process chemistry laboratory represent a body of applied knowledge that simply cannot be shortcut. When clients bring us a reduction challenge, they are drawing on accumulated intelligence across substrates, solvents, industries, and scales that is genuinely difficult to replicate.
MASTERY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
From mild polar borohydrides to highly selective liquid hydrides engineered for non-polar systems, Chematek's portfolio spans the complete spectrum of hydride-based reduction chemistry. Whatever the system, whatever the substrate — we have the chemistry, the experience, and the expertise to deliver.
Chematek’s reduction chemistry platform spans the full polarity range — from borohydrides for polar systems to engineered liquid hydrides for non-polar systems, including intermediate systems.
This unique breadth enables process chemists to design safer, more selective, and scalable reductions in any solvent domain — from aqueous to aromatic.
Polar Systems
Mild, water-compatible solvent environments enabling controlled, chemoselective reductions.
Intermediate Systems
Amphiphilic or mixed-solvent systems where reactivity and selectivity are tuned through solvent balance.
Non-Polar Systems
Low-polarity, moisture-controlled environments enabling selective reductions with engineered liquid hydrides.
Polar Systems: Borohydride Reductions
Reliable & Selective
Chematek’s borohydride portfolio forms the foundation of modern reduction chemistry, delivering proven performance under mild, water-compatible, and easily controlled conditions. Ideal for polar systems such as alcohols, ethers, DMF, and DMSO — where mild conditions and chemoselectivity are critical.
Core Polar Reagents
Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) Potassium borohydride (KBH₄) Lithium borohydride (LiBH₄)* Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (STAB) Sodium cyanoborohydride (NaBH₃CN) *Also used in intermediate systems
Typical Applications
Aldehydes → Primary Alcohols Ketones → Secondary Alcohols Imines → Amines α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyls → Alcohols Metal Salts → Metals (nanoparticles, catalysts)
Intermediate Systems: Custom Selection
Amphiphilic or mixed-solvent systems
Between polar and non-polar extremes lies a wide operational space — intermediate systems (e.g. THF, 2-MeTHF, anisole, toluene–THF mixtures) — where both borohydrides and next-generation hydrides can perform effectively.
Core Products & Services
Chematek’s experts help partners select the right reagent–solvent combination to optimise selectivity, safety, and work-up efficiency.
Typical Applications
Our process knowledge and laboratory capability enable seamless optimisation across the full solvent polarity spectrum.
Non - Polar Systems: Engineered Liquid Hydrides
Engineered Liquid Hydrides
Chematek’s next-generation hydrides combine the selectivity with modern safety and scalability. Developed for real-world API and intermediate synthesis, these engineered liquid reagents provide clean reaction profiles, safer handling, and efficient scale-up — bridging the gap between classical organometallic reactivity and industrial practicality.
Core Non-Polar Reagents
Synhydrid® — sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminium hydride (in toluene). Exclusive global distribution and technical partnership by Chematek. Piperhydride® — Chematek proprietary liquid hydride derived from Synhydrid®. Designed for selective reductions of amides, nitriles, and esters under mild, scalable conditions
Typical Applications
Esters → Aldehydes / Alcohols Amides → Aldehydes Nitriles → Aldehydes Acid Chlorides → Alcohols Lactones → Lactols Ideal for non-polar, moisture-sensitive systems where traditional hydrides are difficult to manage.
Functional Group Mastery
Chematek’s functional group mastery is built on decades of repeated, real-world reduction chemistry across a wide range of substrates, solvent systems, and process constraints.
This depth of experience—spanning polar, intermediate, and non-polar systems—allows us to understand not just how hydrides behave in theory, but how functional groups respond in practice under industrial conditions.
Functional Transformations
Our specialists advise on selective, scalable, and safe hydride-based transformations across the entire polarity spectrum including:
- Aldehydes / Ketones → Alcohols
- Esters / Amides / Nitriles → Aldehydes
- Imines → Amines
- Acid Chlorides → Alcohols
- Disulfides / Peroxides → Thiols / Alcohols
- Metal Salts → Metals (catalyst or nanoparticle generation)
Dedicated Laboratory
- Dedicated reduction suites with inert-atmosphere environments and precision reagent dosing.
- Controlled quenching and containment systems for exothermic or gas-evolving reductions.
- Flow and semi-continuous lines for intensified hazardous transformations.
- Full analytical suite (HPLC, GC–MS, NMR, ICP–OES, KF) for in-depth monitoring and impurity profiling.
R&D Leadership
With hundreds of completed projects and a team of dedicated reduction chemists, Chematek provides not just reagents — but process insight, selectivity data, and operational safety know-how that support customers from early development through scale-up.
Our laboratory capability transforms Chematek’s full-spectrum hydride portfolio into a complete reduction chemistry platform — integrating product, process, and performance.
Our Partners
Chematek supports organisations that develop and manufacture high-value molecules where selectivity, safety, and scale matter.
CDMOS
End-to-end support from route scouting and reagent substitution to tech transfer and scale-up.
API Manufacturers
Modernising legacy reductions, improving impurity profiles, and securing resilient supply.
Tollers/Custom Manufacturers
Process-ready hydrides delivered with reliable global fulfilment.
Sector Expertise
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotech (small molecules, intermediates; late-stage functional group control).
- Fine & Specialty Chemicals (performance additives, aroma chemicals, advanced intermediates).
- Agrochemicals (AIs and key intermediates; scalable, safe reductions).
- Flavours & Fragrances (aroma molecules needing chemoselective carbonyl and imine transformations).
- Advanced Materials & Electronics (high-purity intermediates; controlled metal reductions/nanoparticles).
Project Examples
- Product sales: Multi-hub logistics ensuring reliable availability of hydrides and related materials.
- Reduction step modernisation: Replacing hazardous legacy reagents with engineered liquid hydrides in non-polar systems or optimised borohydrides in polar systems.
- Selectivity tuning: Selecting polar, intermediate, or non-polar systems to achieve target chemoselectivity.
- Impurity control: Data-driven reagent and solvent selection to minimise by-products and simplify work-up.
- Scale-up & safety: Structured packages supporting safe transfer from lab to plant.
Focused Results
- Late-stage carbonyl/imine chemistry in Polar Systems (borohydride reductions).
- Ester, amide, nitrile transformations in Non-Polar Systems with Engineered Liquid Hydrides (Synhydrid® / Piperhydride®).
- Intermediate Systems optimisation (THF / 2-MeTHF / anisole) to balance reactivity, safety, and work-up.
- Metal-salt → metal reductions for catalysts/nanoparticles under controlled, scalable conditions.
Outcome:
faster route decisions, safer plant operations, cleaner profiles.
Confidentiality and Collaboration
Chematek’s ability to deliver real process impact rests not only on what we make, but on how we work.
Our partnerships are built on technical depth, transparency, and absolute discretion — ensuring that every collaboration, from reagent evaluation to full process transfer, is handled with the same precision and care as the chemistry itself.
This commitment to structured, secure collaboration underpins all Chematek relationships and enables genuine innovation across the full spectrum of reduction chemistry.
Protecting Knowledge
At Chematek, confidentiality is not a formality — it is built into how we operate.
Our confidentiality framework combines structural, procedural, and cultural safeguards. Projects are led by dedicated project leaders, delivered by ring-fenced technical teams working on a strict need-to-know basis, and supported by secure digital workspaces and controlled laboratory access, all operating under formal NDAs and compliance procedures aligned with GMP-style standards.
Collaboration Models
We integrate seamlessly into existing R&D, scale-up, or manufacturing operations, offering flexibility without adding unnecessary complexity.
Engagements can begin on a fee-for-service basis for targeted evaluation or troubleshooting, and expand into joint development programmes or strategic partnerships as needs evolve. For mature solutions, Chematek also supports technology licensing and implementation at scale, enabling customers to adopt proven reduction technologies with confidence.
Collaboration Advantages
- Access to Chematek’s full-spectrum hydride portfolio (polar, intermediate, and non-polar systems)
- Guidance from specialist reduction chemists and analytical experts
- Structured data packages including SOPs, impurity maps, and analytical reports
- Flexible commercial frameworks to match project scope and confidentiality requirements
Whether you need a single reduction optimised or a long-term innovation partner, Chematek provides a transparent, data-driven, and secure collaboration environment
Why Work With Us?
Chematek occupies a unique position at the intersection of deep technical expertise and global delivery capability. Few organisations combine decades of applied hydride know-how, a purpose-built reduction chemistry laboratory, and an established worldwide logistics network.
For over forty years, Chematek has supported CDMOs, API manufacturers, and fine chemical producers in modernising reduction chemistry — replacing hazardous reagents, improving selectivity, and securing resilient global supply chains.
Full Spectrum Capability
Chematek understands the entire solvent polarity spectrum — from aqueous borohydride systems to non-polar engineered liquid hydrides. This enables us to advise, supply, and troubleshoot reduction steps across all process environments.
Applied Experience
Every Chematek recommendation is grounded in applied experience — scale-up dynamics, heat-release data, safety envelopes, and solvent compatibility. We don’t just supply reagents; we provide actionable insight that bridges bench chemistry and plant operation.
Global Fulfilment
With 10 distribution hubs worldwide, Chematek delivers dependable, compliant supply of hydrides and supporting reagents.
Our multi-hub platform ensures continuity, shorter lead times, and full traceability from batch to customer.
R&D Leadership
Our laboratory is custom-built for hydride chemistry, equipped with inert handling systems, flow capabilities, and comprehensive analytics (HPLC, GC–MS, NMR, ICP–OES).
Customers gain access to real process data, impurity profiles, and validated quench protocols developed from hundreds of industrial projects.
Our Products
| Product | CAS number | Description | Document | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synhydrid® | CAS: 22722-98-1 | Sodium bis(2- methoxyethoxy) aluminium hydride in toluene Synhydrid® performs reduction reactions, transforming functional groups by means of hydride addition. It can reduce esters and acids to alcohols or aldehydes, ketones to secondary aldehydes, amides and nitriles to amines, lactones to diols or lactols. | Download TDS | |
| Piperhydride® | CAS: 71128-61-5 | Solution of sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)aluminium hydride Piperhydride® was developed in response to more stringent safety, legal and environmental requirements. It is a safe and cost-effective replacement for DIBAL-H in existing processes. | Download TDS | |
| Sodium Borohydride | CAS: 16940-66-2 | Sodium Borohydride is a versatile reducing agent used in organic synthesis for the reduction of various functional groups, including aldehydes, ketones, and nitro compounds, among others. It is also used in the preparation of boranes, in the production of paper and textiles, as a bleaching agent for wood pulp, and as a hydrogen source for fuel cells. Format & | Download TDS | |
| Lithium Borohydride | CAS: 16949-15-8 | Lithium Borohydride (LiBH₄) is a powerful reducing agent used in organic synthesis for the reduction of a broader range of functional groups, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, amides, and nitriles. Compared to sodium and potassium borohydride, lithium borohydride exhibits higher reactivity and is more soluble in ether solvents, enabling efficient reductions under conditions where milder borohydrides are less effective. Format & Packaging Solid - Powder: Alu-bags in drum (10 x 1kg) Solid - Powder: Alu-bags in drum (32 x 1kg) Liquid - 4M in THF: Drum (150kg) | ||
| Potassium Borohydride | CAS: 13762-51-1 | Potassium Borohydride (KBH4) is a reducing agent used in organic synthesis for the reduction of various functional groups, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, and carboxylic acids. Like sodium borohydride, it can also be used in the preparation of boranes. Potassium borohydride can be more soluble than Sodium Borohydride in some solvents, which can make it easier to use in certain reactions. Format & Packaging Solid - Crystals: 50kg Alu-bags (5X10kg) | Download TDS | |
| Sodium Cyano-Borohydride | CAS: 25895-60-7 | Sodium Cyanoborohydride (NaBH₃CN) is a mild and selective reducing agent widely used in organic synthesis, particularly for the reduction of imines and Schiff bases. Its controlled reactivity allows selective reductive amination in the presence of aldehydes and ketones, making it especially valuable in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis. Format & | ||
| Sodium Triacetoxy-Borohydride | CAS: 56553-60-7 | Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride (STAB) is a selective reducing agent commonly employed in reductive amination reactions under mildly acidic conditions. It offers improved chemoselectivity compared to sodium borohydride, enabling efficient conversion of imines to amines while minimising unwanted reduction of carbonyl functional groups. Format & Packaging Solid: 25kg Drum (10*2.5kg) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Full-spectrum reduction chemistry means Chematek can support reduction steps across the full solvent polarity range—using the right hydride technology for each environment.
Polar Systems are water-compatible or highly polar solvents where borohydrides perform reliably; Intermediate Systems are mixed or amphiphilic solvents (e.g., THF, 2-MeTHF, anisole and blends) where selectivity is tuned; Non-Polar Systems are moisture-controlled, low-polarity solvents (e.g., toluene, heptane, xylene) where engineered liquid hydrides deliver selective performance.
We start from the target conversion and required selectivity , then evaluate solvent system, substrate solubility, impurity risk, quench strategy, and scale constraints . Using lab data and industrial case experience, we recommend a reagent–solvent combination that best balances selectivity, safety, work-up simplicity, and scalability .
Borohydrides are widely used, robust hydrides that typically excel in Polar Systems and many Intermediate Systems , offering reliable reductions under controlled conditions. Engineered liquid hydrides are engineered for Non-Polar Systems , delivering strong selectivity with operational advantages such as controlled dosing, cleaner profiles, and improved scale practicality for certain challenging transformations.
Synhydrid® and Piperhydride® are designed as engineered liquid hydrides that deliver targeted reactivity with improved handling and process control in Non-Polar Systems . In many use cases they can reduce operational risk through simpler charging, more predictable behaviour, and cleaner work-ups , supporting safer implementation at scale.
Liquid hydrides can improve dosing accuracy, transfer safety, and process repeatability , especially at scale. They often reduce dust-handling concerns, enable more controlled addition profiles, and can simplify plant operations where consistent feed and predictable kinetics are critical.
Key measures include controlled addition strategies , appropriate inert handling where required , robust temperature control , and a validated quench protocol designed for the specific reagent–solvent system. Safe scale-up also depends on mixing performance, venting/containment, staged quenching , and clear SOPs aligned to plant equipment and hazard assessments.
Yes. Chematek supports reagent substitution, step modernisation, and selectivity improvement across Polar, Intermediate, and Non-Polar Systems. Our work typically focuses on reducing operational risk, improving impurity profiles, simplifying work-up, and strengthening supply resilience without sacrificing performance.
Chematek supports a wide range of reductions including carbonyls to alcohols , imines to amines , and more selective transformations such as esters/amides/nitriles to aldehydes (system- and reagent-dependent). The practical scope is determined by functional group context, solvent system, and selectivity target , which Chematek helps define and optimise.
Our reduction chemistry lab is built to generate actionable process data —screening reagent–solvent options, mapping selectivity windows, and identifying impurity pathways. We support scale translation by developing repeatable operating envelopes , work-up guidance, and documentation packages suitable for technology transfer.
Chematek combines a full-spectrum hydride portfolio with specialist reduction expertise and global fulfilment capability. We don’t just supply products—we help customers choose the right system (Polar vs Intermediate vs Non-Polar), optimise performance, and implement solutions reliably at manufacturing scale.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, Chematek’s reduction chemistry capabilities are applicable across fine and specialty chemicals , agrochemicals , flavours and fragrances , and selected advanced materials applications—especially where selective reductions and controlled work-ups are important.
We support customers through qualified supply pathways, consistent specifications, and robust logistics execution across our global distribution footprint. Multi-hub capability improves continuity, lead times, and responsiveness while maintaining traceability and documentation aligned to customer requirements.
Chematek supports multiple models including fee-for-service technical support , joint development programmes , strategic multi-project partnerships , and technology licensing / revenue-sharing structures where appropriate. The model is tailored to the project’s scope, timeline, and confidentiality requirements.
We operate with formal NDAs , defined project leadership, and need-to-know technical teams supported by controlled data handling. Project materials are managed in secure environments, and lab access/workflows are structured to protect partner information throughout development and transfer.
Solvent polarity affects how hydrides solvate, aggregate, and interact with substrates , which changes reaction rate and chemoselectivity . It also influences heat release, gas evolution, and phase behaviour during quench and work-up , which can be decisive for scale-up safety and impurity control—especially in Intermediate Systems , where small solvent shifts can produce large outcome changes.
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