SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF LIAL[(P2O6)2]

Single crystals of previously unknown LiAl[(P2O6)2] have been obtained by reaction of Li2CO3, Al2O3 and H3PO4 (1:1:16) at 350-degrees-C. The title compound crystallizes in Pbcn (a = 1244.54(1), b = 823.40(1), c = 892.46(1) pm; Z = 4). The least-squares refinement (with anisotropic temperature factors) was performed using 766 observed reflections yielding R = 0.029 and R(w) = 0.075. Four anion chains are running parallel to the shortest axis in the unit cell, the period of identity amounting to four. Aluminium is surrounded by an almost regular octahedron, lithium by a distorted tetrahedron of oxygen.