Two novel acentric borate fluorides: M3B6O11F2 (M = Sr, Ba).

Two novel, noncentrosymmetric borate fluorides, Sr(3)B(6)O(11)F(2) and Ba(3)B(6)O(11)F(2), have been synthesized hydrothermally and their structures determined. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in space group P2(1), having lattice parameters of a = 6.4093 (13) Å, b = 8.2898 (17) Å, c = 9.3656 (19) Å, and β = 101.51 (3)° for Sr(3)B(6)O(11)F(2) and a = 6.5572 (13) Å, b = 8.5107 (17) Å, c = 9.6726 (19) Å, and β = 101.21 (3)° for Ba(3)B(6)O(11)F(2). The structure consists of a complex triple-ring borate framework having aligned triangular [BO(3)] groups that impart polarity. Fluorine atoms are bound only to the alkaline-earth metals and are not part of the borate framework, resulting in a vastly different structure from those of the hydrated borates Sr(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) and Ba(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) with similar formulas. The title compounds are transparent to nearly 200 nm, making them potentially useful for deep-ultraviolet nonlinear-optical applications.