Catecholborane is widely used in organic synthesis as a selective reducing agent, particularly for the reduction of carbonyl groups in aldehydes and ketones. It is effective in hydroboration reactions, especially with alkenes and alkynes, providing access to organoborane intermediates that can be further transformed into alcohols, amines, or other functional groups. Its mild reactivity allows for good chemoselectivity, making it valuable in complex molecule synthesis where functional group compatibility is crucial. It is also employed in asymmetric synthesis when combined with chiral catalysts, enabling the formation of enantiomerically enriched products. Due to its stability and ease of handling, catecholborane is preferred in many laboratory-scale transformations involving boron-based reagents.