Synthesis, characterization and fluorescence properties of two novel inorganic–organic hybrid gallium/indium borates

Two new gallium/indium borates, Ga(en)2[B5O8(OH)2]·H2O (I) and In(en)2[B5O8(OH)2]·H2O (II), have been synthesized under ionothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, XRD and thermal analysis. Single X-ray diffraction studies reveal that compounds I and II are isostructural and isomorphous. Both borates crystallize in the monoclinic system with space group P21/c. Their structures are characterized as an inorganic–organic hybrid 1D helical chain constructed by Ga/In–O–B motif. The 1D helical chains are held together through the O–H⋯O and N–H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a 3D supramolecular structure. Furthermore, their fluorescence properties have also been studied.