RbFeCl3 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mmc space group. Rb(1) is bonded to twelve equivalent Cl(1) atoms to form RbCl12 cuboctahedra that share corners with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, corners with six equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra, faces with eight equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, and faces with six equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 14°. Fe(1) is bonded to six equivalent Cl(1) atoms to form FeCl6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, faces with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, and faces with two equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra. Cl(1) is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Rb(1) and two equivalent Fe(1) atoms.
RbFeCl3 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mmc space group. Rb(1) is bonded to twelve equivalent Cl(1) atoms to form RbCl12 cuboctahedra that share corners with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, corners with six equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra, faces with eight equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, and faces with six equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 14°. There are six shorter (3.50 Å) and six longer (3.69 Å) Rb(1)-Cl(1) bond lengths. Fe(1) is bonded to six equivalent Cl(1) atoms to form FeCl6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, faces with six equivalent Rb(1)Cl12 cuboctahedra, and faces with two equivalent Fe(1)Cl6 octahedra. All Fe(1)-Cl(1) bond lengths are 2.32 Å. Cl(1) is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Rb(1) and two equivalent Fe(1) atoms.