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.