As the name suggests, a non-nucleophilic base is a sterically hinderedorganicbase that is a poor nucleophile. Normal bases are also nucleophiles, but often chemists seek the proton-removing ability of a base without any other functions. Typical non-nucleophilic bases are bulky, such that protons can attach to the basic center but alkylation and complexation is inhibited.
Other strong non-nucleophilic bases are sodium hydride and potassium hydride. These compounds are dense, salt-like materials that are insoluble and operate by surface reactions.
Some reagents are of high basicity (pKa of conjugate acid around 17) but of modest but not negligible nucleophilicity. Examples include sodium tert-butoxide and potassium tert-butoxide.
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^Rafael R. Kostikov, Sánchez-Sancho Francisco, María Garranzo and M. Carmen Murcia "2,6-Di-t-butylpyridine" Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis 2010. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rd068.pub2
^Activation in anionic polymerization: Why phosphazene bases are very exciting promoters S. Boileau, N. Illy Prog. Polym. Sci., 2011, 36, 1132-1151, doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.05.005