NOVELTY - Synthesizing alpha-alane in a stabilized form.    USE - Used as rocket propellants, and as a hydrogen source in fuel cells and batteries.    ADVANTAGE - Provides alpha-alane as an energy dense fuel.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A stabilized alpha-AlH3 product is prepared by:    (a) reacting an alkali metal hydride with AlCl3 in a solution of diethyl ether to form an initial AlH3 product in a reaction mixture, along with an alkali metal chloride;    (b) removing the alkali metal chloride from the reaction mixture by filtration;    (c) adding excess toluene to the filtrate resulting from step (b), providing a diethyl-ether-toluene solution;    (d) heating and distilling the diethyl ether-toluene solution to reduce the amount of diethyl ether in the solution, until a precipitate is formed;    (e) isolating the precipitate;    (f) adding the precipitate to an acidic solution effective to dissolve and thus remove materials other than alpha-AlH3; and    (g) isolating alpha-AlH3 from the acidic solution.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) preparing a stabilized alpha-AlH3 as above but excluding step (g);    (2) preparing alpha'-AlH3 using steps (a), (b) as above, and then adding additionally metal hydride and excess toluene, providing a diethyl ether solution containing alpha'-AlH3 and optionally other AlH3 polymorphs and removing the alpha'-AlH3 from the solution;    (3) reducing a functional group in a molecule by reacting a reducing agent comprising a hydride donor, the stabilized alpha-AlH3 product;    (4) as in (3) but the product being alpha'-AlH3;    (5) conducting a reaction comprising polymerizing monomers using a polymerization catalyst comprising a hydride donor, alpha-AlH3;    (6) as in (5) where the hydride donor is alpha'-AlH3;    (7) an alkaline storage battery comprising an anode, cathode, a hydrogen storage material - the stabilized alpha-AlH3 product , and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte;    (8) as in (7), where the hydrogen storage material is alpha'-AlH3;    (9) a fuel cell for continuously delivering electricity comprising a hydrogen source as a fuel, the stabilized alpha-AlH3, and an oxidant; and    (10) as in (9) but the fuel cell comprising stabilized alpha'-AlH3; and    (11) use of the stabilized alpha-AlH3 product in a propellant composition comprising a fuel, a binder and an oxidizer.