The CsCl/LiCl system has been studied for over a century now. Numerous phases have been predicted -only three have hitherto been found. We present the synthesis and singlecrystal structure of the cesium lithium pentachloride Cs 3 Li 2 Cl 5 , predicted earlier but with a different structure. The anhydrous new phase readily reacts to Cs 3 LiCl 4 ·4H 2 O in air. The tetrahydrate can also be obtained through the simplest, most inexpensive and green synthesis possible: an immediate, room-tem- [a]