diborane

chemical compound

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June 25, 2026

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Diborane is a gaseous compound of boron and hydrogen with the chemical formula B₂H₆. It has a strong, unpleasant odor and is formed by the reaction of a metal hydride with a boron halide. Diborane is highly reactive and decomposes rapidly in water, producing boric acid and hydrogen.1

Boranes, a series of boron and hydrogen compounds, were first systematically studied by Alfred Stock. Diborane is the simplest isolable borane and is a crucial chemical intermediate. Boranes are known for their unique structures and bonding, often involving three-center, two-electron bonds where an electron pair is shared among three atoms. This electron-deficient nature distinguishes them from other chemical compounds. Boranes have found applications in areas such as high-energy fuels and as precursors for various boron derivatives.23

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chemical bonding
Boranes
The electron-deficient compound diborane, B₂H₆, as noted earlier, can be regarded as a cluster of atoms held together by pairs of delocalized electrons that extend their binding influence over all electrons in the molecule. The unusual feature of diborane is the existence of B―H―B bridges as part of…
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The electron-deficient compound diborane, B₂H₆, as noted earlier, can be regarded as a cluster of atoms held together by pairs of delocalized electrons that extend their binding influence over all electrons in the molecule. The unusual feature of diborane is the existence of B―H―B bridges as part of…
Read More