Two tartratoborates with hybrid anionic groups from unusual condensation reactions

Exploration of the oxygen reduction reaction activity of four transition metal borates: synthesis, structure and characterization

Four new transition metal borates, [Co(1-MI)₂]·B₅O₇(OH)₃ (1, 1-MI = 1-methylimidazole), Co₂(PZ)₈(SO₄)₂·2H₃BO₃ (2, PZ = pyrazole), K₇{(BO₃)Co[B₁₂O₁₈(OH)₆]}·H₂O (3) and K₂{[Ni(PY)₂]₂·[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]}₂ (4, PY = pyridine), have been successfully synthesized by a mild method. Their structures were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. These compounds were further characterized by FTIR, PXRD and UV-vis-NIR. It is worth noting that the catalytic properties of catalysts based on these four borates were explored, and that organically templated borate 1- and 2-based catalysts showed better ORR catalytic performance compared to 3- and 4-based catalysts. This may be caused by the supramolecular skeletons of 1 and 2 providing sufficient space and porosity.

Three Cadmium Tartratoborates with Good Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) or Luminescence Performances

Three new cadmium(II) tartratoborates, namely, Cd₅[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]₂(H₂O)₈·3H₂O (1), K₂Cd₄[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]₂(H₂O)₂ (2), and Li_0.92K_1.08Cd_1.5[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B](H₂O)₂ (3), have been successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Compounds 1-3 belong to centric C2/ c, acentric Pc, and the polar C2, respectively. Through based on the same hybrid borate-tartrate [(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]^5- anions, they exhibit different structures. The [(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]^5- anion is composed of two tartrate anions and a B(OH)₄^- unit. Compound 1 features a novel 3D network formed by 2D {Cd₃[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]₂(H₂O)₂}^4- anionic layers and [Cd₂O₁₀] dimers, forming tunnels of large 14-MRs which are filled by the non-coordination water molecules. Compound 2 has a characteristic 3D network based on {Cd₂[(C₄H₂O₆)₂B]}^- units interlinked via carboxylate groups, forming tunnels of 11-MRs, half of which stuffed with the K⁺ ions. Compound 3 features 2D {Cd₄[(C₄H₂O₆)₄B]}³⁺ layers which are separated by K/Li ions. Luminescent studies suggest that they emit blue light. Compounds 2 and 3 display phase-matchable second harmonic generation signs of about 3.2× and 1.5× KH₂PO₄, respectively.

Crystal structure of catena-poly[octaaqua-bis(μ2-4,6-dicarboxyisophthalate-κ2 O:O′)cadmium(II)disodium(I)] dihydrate, C20H28CdNa2O26

C20H28CdNa2O26, monoclinic, C2/m (no. 12), a = 7.4169(8) Å, b = 20.183(2) Å, c = 10.5403(11) Å, β = 103.5520(10)°, V = 1533.9(3) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0434, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1271, T = 296(2) K.