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Two alkali metal borates built by {Li@B14} and {B15} cluster units
Ming-Zhao Li1, Dan Qin1, Juan Chen1
1MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China. ygy@bit.edu.cn.
None:
Two alkali metal borates, K7[{Li@B12O18(OH)4}{BO(OH)3}2] (1) and LiNa2K2[B15O25] (2), were successfully synthesized via mid-temperature hydrothermal methods. 1 features a Li-centered [{Li@B12O18(OH)4}{BO(OH)3}2]7- ({Li@B14}) cluster, forming a 3D supramolecular framework through hydrogen bonds. Notably, the {B14} cluster is reported for the first time, containing a [12:6Δ + 6T]-configured [B12O18(OH)6]6- cluster terminally decorated with two BO(OH)3 tetrahedra. By varying the reactant concentrations and temperature based on 1, 2 was obtained, achieving the expansion of dimensionality. 2 exhibits a 3D open-framework templated by three kinds of distinct alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+), and represents a rare example of a B15O29-based framework obtained under hydrothermal conditions. The {B15} cluster is formed by a [12:4(3:2Δ + T)]-type [B12O24]12- cluster linked to a B3O7 ring. Both compounds exhibit ultraviolet (UV) cut-off edges and moderate birefringence, indicating promising potential for UV optical applications.
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