Two　novel　layered　zincoborates,　[HN(C2H5)3]2[Zn4B2(C4H2O6)4(H2O)3]·0.5H2O　(1)　and　[HN(C2H5)3][Zn2B(C4H2O6)2(H2O)]　(2),　have　been　synthesized　under　mild　solvothermal　conditions.　Both　compounds　are　characterized　by　single-crystal　X-ray　diffraction,　powder　X-ray　diffraction,　IR　spectroscopy　and　elemental　analysis,　respectively.　Structure　analyses　reveal　that　they　possess　the　same　metal–nonmetal　hybrid　Zn2B(C4H2O6)2　{Zn2B}　cluster　building　units　(CBUs).　These　CBUs　connect　with　tartaric　acid　into　linear　chains.　The　different　orientation　and　arrangements　of　the　chains　lead　to　the　formation　of　two　sorts　of　topologically　similar　corrugated　layers.　Furthermore,　the　thermal　analyses　and　semiconducting　behaviors　were　performed.　©　2015,　Springer　Science+Business　Media　New　York.