Hydroboration Part 1

Lesson 1 of 9 • 16 upvotes • 15:00mins

Dhirpal

The structure of borane, BH3 is similar to that of a carbocation, but without the charge. The boron atom lacks an octet of electrons and is therefore very reactive. In fact, one borane molecule will even react with another borane molecule to form a dimeric structure called diborane. In these solutions, borane exists as a Lewis acid-base complex with the ether oxygen of THF (tetrahydrofuran), an aggregate that allows the boron to have an electron octet. THF can donate electron density into the empty p orbital of boron. Regardless, it is nevertheless still very electrophilic and subject to attack by the π bond of an alkene.