Catecholborane was conveniently synthesized by the reaction of tri-O-phenylene bis-borate (2) with diborane in triglyme or tetraglyme at moderate temperatures (70-80 °C). The product, catecholborane, can be distilled out in 85% yield with >97% purity. The tri-O-phenylene bis-borate also reacts with borane-Lewis base complexes, such as BH 3 :DMS, BH 3 :THF, and BH 3 : NR 3 , with or without solvent, providing catecholborane of high purity in good yields.