New ternary indide La2Pd3In4

A new indide La2Pd3In4 was prepared by arc-melting of the elements. X-ray diffraction on single crystals yielded: Pnma, oP36, a = 21.8112(6) Å, b = 4.4680(1) Å, c = 8.4145(2) Å, Z = 4, R = 0.0355. La2Pd3In4 is a new site exchange variant of the YNi5Si3 type. The main geometrical motif is here a set of condensed, palladium-centered trigonal prisms composed of lanthanum and indium atoms. Palladium and indium atoms form a complex three-dimensional [Pd3In4] polyanion. The lanthanum atoms are located in the two types of distorted hexagonal channels. The compound is diamagnetic and exhibits metallic conductivity.