The compounds Rb Br 9 were synthesized and their crystal structures determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compounds Rb 3 Sb 2 Br 9 , Rb 3 Sb 2 I 9 , and Rb 3 Bi 2 I 9 crystallize in the Tl 3 Bi 2 I 9 type of structure (space group P2 1 /n, no. 14). Rb 3 Bi 2 Br 9 and Tl 3 Bi 2 Br 9 crystallize in a new but closely related type of structure (space group P2 1 /a, no. 14). Both structure types feature characteristic double layers comprising 736 corner-sharing EX 6 octahedra. The space groups are set in a way that the stacking direction of the layers is the [001] direction. The groupsubgroup relations to cubic perovskite ABO 3 are discussed. Differences between M 3 E 2 X 9 types are attributed to distortions of the underlying MX 3 close packing. Depending on the atomic size ratio, the distortions are quantified by an order parameter. [18] 1 ϱ [E 4 X 12+12/2 ] Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2016, 736-748Electron Microscopy: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed with a Hitachi SU8020 with a triple detector system for secondary and low-energy backscattered electrons (U a = 5 kV). Energydispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra of single crystals were measured with 30 kV. Single crystals were selected using a microscope with polarized