Hygroscopic La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O: Insight into the evolution of borate fundamental building blocks

Borates have exceptionally diverse fundamental building blocks (FBBs), but factors controlling the formation of borate FBBs are poorly understood. The title compound La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O crystallizes in the space group P2{sub 1}/n with a=6.5396(12) Å, b=15.550(3) Å, c=10.6719(19) Å, β=90.44(1)° and Z=4 at 173(2) K. Its structure has been refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R{sub 1}=0.049 (for 2465) and wR{sub 2}=0.173 (for 2459 I>2σ(I)). This structure analysis and first-principles calculations show that the change of the FBB from 3Δ2□ in the title compound to 2Δ3□ in La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O is accompanied by a rotation of the NO{sub 3} group. FTIR, Rietveld and thermal analysis results show that the hygroscopic title compound is partially changed to La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O, with the conversion of [BO{sub 3}] to [BO{sub 3}(H{sub 2}O)] by water absorption. - Graphical abstract: The change of fundamental building blocks from La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O to La[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O)]NO{sub 3}·2H{sub 2}O is accompanied by a rotation of the NO{sub 3} group . Display Omitted - Highlights: • Synthesis of a new hydrous lanthanum polyborate nitrate. • Single-crystal XRD structure with the 3Δ2⎕ FBB and an oriented NO{sub 3} group. • DFT calculations locate the H positions in three lanthanide polyborate nitrates. • Rietveld, FTIR and DFT results show hygroscopicity changes the FBBs.