Structural Characterization and ORR Activity of a Copper Complex Borate and an Unexpected [Ni(atta)(SO 4 ) 0.5 ] + Borate-Sulfate.

Two metal templated borates, [Ni(atta)(SO 4 ) 0.5 ]·[B 5 O 6 (OH) 4 ] ( 1 ) and [Cu(1-MI) 4 ]·[B 5 O 6 (OH) 4 ] 2 ·1-MI 2 ( 2 ), have been synthesized. The structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), elemental analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The structure of 1 consists of [B 5 O 6 (OH) 4 ] - clusters and [Ni(atta)(SO 4 ) 0.5 ] + complexes, which shows a very rare Ni-O-S bond. 1 and 2 exhibit a hydrogen-bonded network formed by [B 5 O 6 (OH) 4 ] - clusters. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities of 1 and 2 were explored.