Poly[tetra‐μ 2 ‐ l ‐lactato‐indium(III)sodium(I)]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [InNa(C 3 H 5 O 3 ) 4 ] n , consists of one In III ion, one Na I ion and four crystallographically independent l ‐lactate monoanions. The coordination of the In III ion is composed of five carboxylate O and two hydroxy O atoms in a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal coordination geometry. The Na I ion is six‐coordinated by four carboxylate O atoms and two hydroxy O atoms from four l ‐lactate ligands in a distorted octahedral geometry. Each In III ion is coordinated by four surrounding l ‐lactate ligands to form an [In( l ‐lactate) 4 ] − unit, which is further linked by Na I ions through Na—O bonds to give a two‐dimensional layered structure. Hydrogen bonds between the hydroxy groups and carboxylate O atoms are observed between neighbouring layers.