Two templated borates, [Co(bpy)2­BO2­(OH)]·[B5­O6­(OH)4]·H3­BO3·H3O·H2O (1) and [Cu(bpy)(OH)]2·[B5­O6­(OH)4]2·H2O (2), have been synthesized successfully and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared. The [Co(bpy)2BO2(OH)] complex in 1 shows a very rare coordination mode between Co2+ and BO2(OH)2–. The structures of 1 and 2 can be adjusted by changing the reagent. The oxygen reduction reaction activity of these Co- and Cu-based catalysts was studied. The E 1/2 values of Co–C-750 and Cu–C-750 are 0.864 and 0.837 V, respectively.

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