Na3Sc2(BO3)3

Single crystals of trisodium discandium trisborate have been grown by slowly cooling a NaBO2-containing melt from 1273 K to room temperature. The title compound adopts a new structure type and contains distorted ScO6 octahedra, NaO8 polyhedra and triangular BO3 groups as simple building units. Two ScO6 octahedra share triangular faces along the c axis, forming an [Sc2O9] dimer. By sharing corners and edges with the other building units, the three-dimensional framework is accomplished. All atoms except O1 are in special positions: Sc (site symmetry 3.), Na (.2), O2 (.2) and B (.2).