Explorations of new selenites of the group IIIA and IVA metals

► Up to now, selenites of the group IIIA and IVA metals are still rare. ► Hydrothermal or solid state reactions yielded six new compounds in this system. ► They are M2Se2O7 (M=Ga, In), M(OH)(SeO3) (M=Ga, In), α-Ge(SeO3)2 and β-Ge(SeO3)2. ► They exhibit four different 3D and one 2D structural types. ► α-Ge(SeO3)2 and β-Ge(SeO3)2 represent the first examples of germanium selenites.