Ordering of Pd(2+) and Pd(4+) in the mixed-valent palladate KPd(2)O(3).

A new potassium palladate KPd(2)O(3) was synthesized by the reaction of KO(2) and PdO at elevated oxygen pressure. Its crystal structure was solved from powder X-ray diffraction data in the space group R3m (a = 6.0730(1) A, c = 18.7770(7) A, and Z = 6). KPd(2)O(3) represents a new structure type, consisting of an alternating sequence of K(+) and Pd(2)O(3)(-) layers with ordered Pd(2+) and Pd(4+) ions. The presence of palladium ions in di- and tetravalent low-spin states was confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements.