[1] It features a boron hydride functional group incorporated in a five-membered C2O2B ring.

Like related boron alkoxides, pinacolborane is monomeric.

[3] In the presence of catalysts, pinacolborane hydroborates alkenes and, less rapidly, alkynes.

[3][4] Pinacolborane also affects catalyst-free hydroboration of aldehydes,[5] ketones,[6] and carboxylic acids.

[7] Pinacolborane is used in borylation, a form of C-H activation.