La6Sn1Ni4Ru0.4Al3.6

La6Sn1Ni4Ru0.4Al3.6 is produced from the reaction of tin, ruthenium, and aluminum in a La/Ni eutectic flux. The structure is hexagonal, P-6m2, with a variation of the Nd6Co5Ge2.2 structure type. The structure features a Ru/Ni/Al hexagonal framework templated by tin-centered La clusters in the channels. These Sn@La9 clusters are seen in several other structures grown from reactions of tin in the La/Ni flux. This is described in our recent paper (J. Zaikina, S. E. Latturner, et al. Inorg. Chem., submitted 2009)