Beta-Sm(OH)2Cl: a new lamellar variety.

Crystals of dihydroxysamarium chloride were synthesized hydrothermally at 473 K. The orthorhombic structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Beta-Sm(OH)2Cl exhibits a lamellar structure built up from the stacking of neutral slabs; all the atoms lie on crystallographic mirror planes.