Polycations Stabilised by Borosulfates: [Au3Cl4][B(S2O7)2] and the One-Dimensional Metal [Au2Cl4][B(S2O7)2](SO3)

(SO₄)-rich silicate analogue borosulfates are able to stabilise cationic cluster-like and chain-like aggregates. Single crystals of [Au₃Cl₄][B(S₂O₇)₂] and [Au₂Cl₄][B(S₂O₇)₂](SO₃) were obtained by solvothermal reaction with SO₃, and the electronic properties were investigated by means of density functional theory–based calculations. [Au₃Cl₄][B(S₂O₇)₂] exhibits a cluster-like cation, and the cationic gold-chloride strands in [Au₂Cl₄][B(S₂O₇)₂](SO₃) are found to resemble one-dimensional metallic wires. This is confirmed by polarisation microscopy.     

The Borosulfate Story Goes on—From Alkali and Oxonium Salts to Polyacids

The structural principles of borosulfates derived from the B/S ratio are confirmed and extended to new representatives of this class showing novel motifs. According to the composition, Na[B(S₂O₇)₂] (P2₁/c; a=10.949(6), b=8.491(14), c=12.701(8) Å; β=110.227(1)°; Z=4) and K[B(S₂O₇)₂] (Cc; a=11.3368(6), b=14.662(14), c=13.6650(8) Å; β=94.235(1)°; Z=8) contain isolated [B(S₂O₇)₂]^? ions, in which the central BO₄ tetrahedron is coordinated by two disulfate units. The alkali cations have coordination numbers of 7 (Na) and 8 (K), respectively. The structure of Cs[B(S₂O₇)(SO₄)] (P2₁/c; a=10.4525(6), b=11.3191(14), c=8.2760(8) Å; β=103.206(1); Z=4) combines, for the first time, sulfate and disulfate units into a chain structure. Cs has a coordination number of 12. The same structural units were found in H[B(S₂O₇)(SO₄)] (P2₁/c; a=15.6974(6), b=11.4362(14), c=8.5557(8) Å; β=90.334(3)°; Z=8). This compound represents the first example of a polyacid. The hydrogen atoms were located and connect the chains to form layers through hydrogen‐bonding bridges. H₃O[B(SO₄)₂] (P4/ncc; a=9.1377(6), c=7.3423(8) Å; Z=4) is the first oxonium compound of this type to be found. The BO₄ tetrahedra are linked by SO₄ tetrahedra to form linear chains similar to those in SiS₂. The chains form a tetragonal rod packing structure with H₃O⁺ between the rods. The structures of borosulfates can be classified following the concept described by Liebau for silicates, which was extended to borophosphates by Kniep et al. In contrast to these structures, borosulfates do not comprise B‐O‐B bonds but instead contain S‐O‐S connections. All compounds were obtained as colourless, moisture‐sensitive single crystals by reaction of B₂O₃ and the appropriate alkali salt in oleum.     

Cu[B2(SO4)4] and Cu[B(SO4)2(HSO4)]—Two Silicate Analogue Borosulfates Differing in their Dimensionality: A Comparative Study of Stability and Acidity

Borosulfates are an ever‐expanding class of compounds and the extent of their properties is still elusive. Herein, the first two copper borosulfates Cu[B₂(SO₄)₄] and Cu[B(SO₄)₂(HSO₄)] are presented, which are structurally related but show different dimensionalities in their substructure: While Cu[B₂(SO₄)₄] reveals an anionic chain, [B(SO₄)_4/2]^?, with both a twisted and a unique chair conformation of the B(SO₄)₂B subunits, Cu[B(SO₄)₂(HSO₄)] reveals isolated [B₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂]^4? anions showing exclusively a twisted conformation. The complex anion can figuratively be obtained as a cut‐out from the anionic chain by protons. Comparative DFT calculations based on magnetochemical measurements complement the experimental studies. Calculation of the pK_a values of the two conformers of the [B₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂]^4? anion revealed them to be more similar to silicic than to sulfuric acid, highlighting the close relationship to silicates.     

Synthesis-Controlled Polymorphism and Optical Properties of Phyllosilicate-Analogous Borosulfates M[B2(SO4)4] (M=Mg,Co)

Increased synthetic control in borosulfate chemistry leads to the access of various new compounds. Herein, the polymorphism of phyllosilicate-analogous borosulfates is unraveled by adjusting the oleum (65 % SO₃) content. The new polymorphs β-Mg[B₂(SO₄)₄] and α-Co[B₂(SO₄)₄] both consist of similar layers of alternating borate and sulfate tetrahedra, but differ in the position of octahedrally coordinated cations. The α-modification comprises cations between the layers, whereas in the β-modification cations are embedded within the layers. With this new synthetic approach, phase-pure compounds of the respective polymorphs α-Mg[B₂(SO₄)₄] and β-Co[B₂(SO₄)₄] were also achieved. Tanabe–Sugano analysis of the Co²⁺ polymorphs reveal weak ligand field splitting and give insights into the coordination behavior of the two-dimensional borosulfate anions for the first time. DFT calculations confirmed previous in silico experiments and enabled an assignment of the polymorphs by comparing the total electronic energies. The compounds are characterized by single-crystal XRD, PXRD, FTIR, and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.     

The Borosulfates K4[BS4O15(OH)], Ba[B2S3O13], and Gd2[B2S6O24]

K₄[BS₄O₁₅(OH)], Ba[B₂S₃O₁₃], and Gd₂[B₂S₆O₂₄] were obtained by a new synthetic approach. The strategy involves initially synthesizing the complex acid H[B(HSO₄)₄] which is subsequently reacted in an open system with anhydrous chlorides of K, Ba, and Gd to the respective borosulfates and a volatile molecule (HCl). Furthermore, protonated borosulfates should be accessible by appropriate stoichiometry of the starting materials, particularly in closed systems, which inhibit deprotonation of H[B(HSO₄)₄] via condensation and dehydration. This approach led to the successful synthesis of the first divalent and trivalent metal borosulfates (Ba[B₂S₃O₁₃] with band‐silicate topology and Gd₂[B₂S₆O₂₄] with cyclosilicate topology) and the first hydrogen borosulfate K₄[BS₄O₁₅(OH)].     

Borosulfates—Synthesis and Structural Chemistry of Silicate Analogue Compounds

Borosulfates are oxoanionic compounds consisting of condensed sulfur- and boron-centered tetrahedra. Hitherto, they were mostly achieved from solvothermal syntheses in SO₃-enriched sulfuric acid, or from reactions with the superacid H[B(HSO₄)₄]. The crystal structures are very similar to those of the corresponding class of silicates and their substitution variants, especially regarding the typical structural motif of corner-sharing tetrahedra. However, the borosulfates are supposed to be even more versatile, because (BO₃) units might also be part of the anionic network. The following article deals with detailed reports on the different synthesis strategies, the crystal chemistry of borosulfates in comparison to silicates, and their hitherto identified properties.