9 Borane Uses : Facts You Should Know

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Boranes are a large group of inorganic compounds of boron and hydrogen or their derivatives with the general formula BxHy. Let us explore the different uses of boranes.

The different uses of borane compounds in different fields are mentioned below-

  • Laboratory
  • Research
  • Fuel
  • Manufacturing
  • Polymer
  • Semiconductor

Laboratory

  • Boranes are having the most common chemical application in the hydroboration reaction.
  • Diborane can act as a reducing agent in some chemical reactions.

Research

  • Borane of various structures are available as different reagents in organic synthesis.
  • Boranes can behave as ligands to the metal ions in coordination compounds.

Fuel

Boranes have been extensively studied as potential rocket fuels in supersonic airplanes and jet aircraft as they have a specific energy of combustion in comparison to hydrocarbons.

Manufacturing

  • Diborane is used in the preparation of glass borophosphosilicate.
  • Diborane is used in making welding torches.

Polymer

Boranes along with their derivatives are applied as vulcanizing agents in the synthesis of natural and synthetic rubber.

Semiconductor

Diborane serves the role of doping agent in the construction of semiconductor devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, boranes are very reactive; some of them are even pyrophoric. They have a special kind of 3-center-2-electron bonds. Boranes can be classified based on their structure as closo-, nido-, arachno-, hypho, and conjuncto.