This is the structure of diborane, B2H6:

The B-H-B bridge bonds are known as three-center two-electron bonds.

Borane chemistry is a rich field of chemical research. It was initiated by the work of Alfred Stock (of nomenclature fame to high schoolers) starting in 1912.

The 1976 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to W.N. Lipscomb (of Harvard University) "for his studies of boranes which have illuminated problems of chemical bonding."

Hubert C. Brown (of Purdue University) was a co-recipient of the 1979 Chemistry Nobel for his work in developing boron-containing compounds into important reagents for organic synthesis. The other person (G. Wittig) did similiar work, but using phosphorus.

Now, no more jokes about how you just have to "bore on" in chemistry or how Mr. (or Ms.) Whoever was a real "bore-on" in class today!!

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