SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF THE ZINTL PHASE SRSN3SB4

The new Zintl compound strontium tin antimonide, SrSn3Sb4, has been sy nthesized, and its structure has been determined by single-crystal X-r ay diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space grou p D-2h(16)-Pnma with a 10.060(2) Angstrom, b = 4.361(1) Angstrom, c = 22.934(4) Angstrom, and Z = 4 at 22 degrees C, The structure of SrSn3S b4 may be described as consisting of large, narrow channels running al ong [010] defined by 30-membered rings constructed from an anionic fra mework of linked SnSb4 tetrahedra, SnSb3 trigonal pyramids, and zigzag Sb-Sb chains. Sr2+ cations are situated within these channels. The ch annel structures of SrSn3Sb4 and Ba-2-Sn3Sb6 are closely related.