Na3DyCl6

Abstract

Single crystals of the title compound, trisodium hexachloridodysprosate, Na3DyCl6, were obtained as a by-product of synthesis using dysprosium(III) chloride and sodium chloride among others. The monoclinic structure with its typical β angle close to 90° [90.823 (4)°] is isotypic with the mineral cryolite (Na3AlF6) and the high-temperature structure of the Na3MCl6 series, with M = Eu–Lu, Y and Sc. The isolated, almost perfect [DyCl6]3− octahedra are interconnected via two crystallographically different Na+ cations: while one Na+ resides on centres of symmetry (as well as Dy3+) and also builds almost perfect, isolated [NaCl6]5− octahedra, the other Na+ is surrounded by seven chloride anions forming a distorted [NaCl7]6− trigonal prism with just one cap as close secondary contact.