NaH reduces certain main group compounds, but analogous reactivity is very rare in organic chemistry (see below). Notably boron trifluoride reacts to give diborane and sodium fluoride:
:6 NaH + 2 BF → BH + 6 NaF
Si–Si and S–S bonds in disilanes and disulfides are also reduced.
A series of reduction reactions, including the hydrodecyanation of tertiary nitriles, reduction of imines to amines, and amides to aldehydes, can be effected by a composite reagent composed of sodium hydride and an alkali metal iodide (NaH⋅MI, M = Li, Na).