It has the formula [(CH3)4C2O2B]2; the pinacol groups are sometimes abbreviated as "pin", so the structure is sometimes represented as B2pin2.

It is a commercially available reagent for making pinacol boronic esters for organic synthesis.

[1] This compound may be prepared by treating tetrakis(dimethylamino)diboron with pinacol in acidic conditions.

Using various organorhodium or organoiridium catalysts, it can also be installed onto saturated hydrocarbons:[3] These reactions proceed via boryl complexes.

Bis(pinacolato)diboron can also be used as reducing agent for example in transition metal catalyzed hydrogenations of alkenes and alkynes.