Pronunciation: [bˈɔːɹe͡ɪn] (IPA) 
"Borane" is a chemical compound with the formula BH3. The spelling of the word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as bɔːreɪn. The first syllable is pronounced with an open o sound as in "awe." The second syllable has a long "a" sound, and the third syllable is pronounced like the word "rain" without the "r" sound. This chemical compound is commonly used as a reducing agent and in organic synthesis.
Borane refers to a class of chemical compounds containing boron and hydrogen atoms. It is characterized by the general formula of BHx, where x represents the number of hydrogen atoms bonded to the boron atom. Borane compounds can exist in various forms, including monomers, dimers, oligomers, or clusters.
Boranes are known for their reactivity and serve as versatile reagents in countless organic reactions, particularly in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Many boranes are powerful reducing agents due to the presence of highly polar boron-hydrogen bonds. The most well-known borane compound is diborane (B2H6), which is a colorless, toxic gas. Other common examples of boranes include borane-dimethyl sulfide (BH3•S(CH3)2), borane-tetrahydrofuran (BH3•THF), and trimethylborane (B(CH3)3).
Boranes are widely used in organic synthesis, such as hydroboration reactions, where they are employed to introduce boron atoms into organic molecules. These reactions are valuable tools for preparing various functional groups, as they exhibit excellent regioselectivity and stereospecificity. Furthermore, boranes are extensively utilized in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, polymers, and other chemical products.
Due to their reactive nature and potential hazards, handling boranes requires caution, usually involving specialized equipment and techniques. Nonetheless, their unique properties and synthetic utility make boranes vital reagents in modern organic chemistry.
The word "borane" is derived from the element boron, which was discovered in 1808 by French chemist Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac and physicist Louis-Jacques Thenard. The term boron itself is believed to originate from the Persian word "burah" or the Arabic word "buraq", both of which refer to a powdery substance known as "borax" or "borak" in English. The suffix "-ane" is a common one used in organic chemistry to denote a single-bonded hydrocarbon compound, thus boron with hydrogen forms borane compounds. The term "borane" was first used in the mid-20th century to designate a class of chemical compounds containing the boron-hydrogen bonding.
