The reaction of alkali chlorides MCl with NbOCl 3 yields melts which on cooling solidify under crystallization. In the case of KCl / NbOCl 3 , the pink coloured regulus was investigated by powder-XRD and shown to be biphasic, consisting of K[NbOCl 4 ] (primitive orthorhombic lattice, a ϭ 13.467(2); b ϭ 7.9362(8); c ϭ 14.041(2) Å ) and K 2 [NbOCl 5 ] (F centred cubic lattice, a ϭ 9.8291(2) Å ). To a small amount vapour phase transport occurs and colourless crystals of M 2 [Nb 3 O 5 Cl 7 ] (M ϭ K, Rb, Cs) are deposited in the colder parts of evacuated glass tubes containing molten mixtures of MCl and NbOCl 3 or MCl, Nb 2 O 5 and NbCl 5 in a temperature gradient of 500°C to 450°C for some days. Green crystals of (NH 4 ) 2 [Nb 3 O 5 Br 7 ] are obtained as a by-product in the reaction of NH 4 Br with NbOBr 3 in sealed ampoules at temperatures of 300°C. All compounds are isotypic and belong to the M 2 [Nb 3 O 5 X 7 ] structure type of which (NH 4 ) 2 [Nb 3 O 5 Cl 7 ] was already known (Schweda, 1997) (monoclinic, C2/c, Z ϭ 4,