Copper Weberites: Crystal Structure and Magnetic Investigation of Na2CuGaF7 and Na2CuInF7

The crystal structures of two new copper weberites Na₂CuGaF₇ and Na₂CuInF₇ have been determined. Na₂CuGaF₇ has the monoclinic space group C2/c: a = 1232.5(5) pm, b = 731.8(1) pm, c = 1278.0(5) pm, β = 109.29(2)° and Z = 8. Na₂CuInF₇ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pmnb: a = 731.8(1) pm, b = 1060.2(2) pm, c = 771.2(1) pm and Z = 4. The structures have been refined from 1175 reflections to R = 0.043 (wR = 0.035) for Na₂CuGaF₇, and from 1917 reflections to R = 0.034 (wR = 0.025) for Na₂CuInF₇. The structures consist of [CuF₅]_n^3n? chains which are parallel the a-axis in Na₂CuInF₇ and oriented in two alternating directions in Na₂CuGaF₇. Sodium atoms exhibit either seven-fold or eight-fold coordination. Although strong antiferromagnetic interactions are observed inside the chains, there is no evidence for three-dimensional ordering.