Borane–trimethylamine complex (Me3N·BH3; BTM) is the most stable of the amine–borane complexes that are commercially available, and it is cost-effective. It is a valuable reagent in organic chemistry with applications in the reduction of carbonyl groups and carbon–nitrogen double bond reduction, with considerable examples in the reduction of oximes, hydrazones and azines.
As a reducing agent and in hydroboration reactionsBorane-triethylamine complex is used for ethanolysis of amine-borane adducts. It is also used in photochemical hydroboration and oxidation of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Further, it acts as a reactant for the synthesis of silylboranate and N-heterocyclic carbene borane complexes through Lewis base exchange with amine-boranes. It plays an important role in the generation of boron carbide nitride films through low-pressure chemical vapor deposition.
Distil it in a vacuum using a 60cm glass helices-packed column. [Brown et al. J Am Chem Soc 64 325 1942, Ashby & Foster J Am Chem Soc 84 3407 1962, Matsuura & Tolcura Tetrahedron Lett 4703 1968, Beilstein 4 IV 329.]
