New bidentate non-centrosymmetric borate–malate: Synthesis, structure and characterization of RbB(dl-C4H4O5)2·H2O

A single crystal of RbB(dl-C4H4O5)2·H2O (RBC) has been grown with a size of up to 11 mm × 8 mm × 3 mm through slow evaporation of its precursors’ solution at room temperature. The structure of RBC was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: RBC, Mr = 378.44; orthorhombic, space group Pna21 (No. 33); cell parameters, a = 11.4938(9) Å, b = 5.4021(5) Å, c = 21.1696(12) Å and Z = 4. It exhibits a two-dimensional layer structure down the b axis, consisting of RbO7 polyhedra, BO4 tetrahedra, malate groups, and H2O molecules. The material is second harmonic generation (SHG) active; its SHG intensity is about 2 times that of KH2PO4 (KDP).