What that author probably considers unusual is that the so-called octet rule is violated. There are only 6 electrons involved in the bonds. The compounds are non-ionic. Refer to the Wikipedia discussions of each:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifluoroborane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borane
In terms of boron, many of its interesting reactions are related to its properties as a Lewis acid. That is, it accepts a pair of bonding electrons giving it an octet, 4 bonds, and a negative charge. A simple reaction to illustrate that is the reaction of boric acid, which can be written as H
3BO
3 or B(OH)
3, with NaOH. By analogy to the reaction of formic acid (H
2CO
2 or HCO
2H), one might think that boric acid loses a proton (i.e., acts as Bronsted acid) to give B(OH)
2O
- + Na
+ + H
2O .
There is strong evidence, however, that a hydroxyl adds to the boron (i.e., boron acts as a Lewis acid) to give B(OH)
4- + Na
+. B(OH)
4- follows the octet rule and is tetrahedral. You will probably see that structure used more commonly (See "properties" and discussion of conflicting theories at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boric_acid ). The latter reaction mechanism is useful for explaining the propensity of boric acid and organic derivatives of boric acid (e.g., boronic acids) to form both charged and uncharged adducts with adjacent hydroxyl groups in compounds such as carbohydrates.
Another useful compound of boron in which it acts as a Lewis acid is sodium borohydride (NaBH
4)(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_borohydride). Because that compound can donate a hydride (H
-), it is a powerful reducing agent.
John
Edit: Fixed superscripts and sunbscipts