유기화합물의 선택환원에 필요한 자료를 얻기 위하여 수소화붕소나트륨과 염화알루미늄의 3:1 혼합물의 테트라히드로푸란 용액에서의 환원성을 규명하였다. 49개의 대표적 유기화합물을 골라 이시약과 실온에서 작용하여 대략의 반응속도와 정량관계를 알아보았다. 테트라히드로푸란 용액에서 염화알루미늄 1몰에 수소화붕소나트륨 3몰을 가하면 현탁용액이 생기는데 수소화붕소나트륨 보다는 훨씬 환원성이 강하다. 알데히드와 케톤은 한시간 이내에 빨리 환원되고 아실유도체는 서서히 그러나 카르복시산은 매우 느리게 환원되었다. 에스테르, 락톤, 에폭시드는 수소화붕소나트륨이나 보란보다 훨씬 빨리 환원되었다. 삼차 아미드는 서서히 환원되었으나 일차 아미드는 수소는 발생하지만 환원은 거의 일어나지 않았다. 벤조니트릴은 30분에 환원이 완결되었으나 카프로니트릴은 느리게 환원되었다. 니트로화합물, 이황화물, 술폰등은 이 시약과 반응하지 않으나 아조, 아족시, 옥심기는 서서히 반응하고 이소시안산페닐은 도중단계까지만 환원되었다 올레핀은 쉽게 수소화붕소화 반응을 하였다.
The addition of one mole of aluminum chloride to three moles of sodium borohydride in tetrahydrofuran gives a turbid solution with enormously more powerful reducing properties than those of sodium borohydride itself. The reducing properties of this reagent were tested with 49 organic compounds which have representative functional groups. Alcohols liberated hydrogen immediately but showed no sign of hydrogenolysis of alkoxy group. Aldehydes and ketones were reduced rapidly within one hr. Acyl derivatives were reduced moderately, however, carboxylic acids were reduced much more slowly. Esters, lactones and epoxides were reduced readily than sodium borohydride or borane. Tertiary amide was reduced slowly, however, primary amide consumed one hydride for hydrogen evolution but reduction was sluggish. Aromatic nitrile was reduced much more readily than aliphatic nitrile. Nitro compounds were inert to this reagent but azo and azoxy groups were slowly attacked. Oxime was reduced slowly but isocyanate was only partially reduced. Disulfide and sulfoxide were attacked slowly but sulfide and sulfone were inert. Olefin was hydroborated rapidly.
