Li3[ScN2]: the first nitridoscandate(III)-tetrahedral Sc coordination and unusual MX2 framework.

Li(3)[ScN(2)] was prepared from Li(3)N with Sc or ScN in a nitrogen atmosphere at 1020 K as a light yellow powder with an optical band gap of about 2.9 eV. The crystal structure was refined based on X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data (Ia$\bar 3$, Z=16, X-ray diffraction: R(profile)=0.