Versatile Coordination Mode of LiNaB8O13 and α- and β-LiKB8O13 via the Flexible Assembly of Four-Connected B5O10 and B3O7 Groups

Three new alkali-metal mixed borates, LiNaB8O13, α-LiKB8O13, and β-LiKB8O13, containing a (3)∞[B8O13] three-dimensional network have been successfully synthesized. Their fundamental building block is [B8O16](8-) formed by the vertex-sharing [B5O10](5-) and [B3O7](5-) groups, which are topologically identical when they are considered as four-connected nodes. The viewpoints give us a feasible way to investigate the versatile structure assembly of borates with a complex network.