Poly[μ-2,3-dihydroxypropan-1-olato-sodium]

The Na+ cation in the title compound, [Na(C3H7O3)]n or Na[H2gl], is coordinated by five O atoms leading to a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The negatively charged O atom of the glycerolate anion is in an equatorial position, and the O atom of the hydroxo group, attached to the secondary C atom, occupies an axial position completing a five-membered non-planar chelate ring; this defines the asymmetric unit. The Na+ cation is coordinated by three other symmetry-related monodentate H2gl− ligands, so that each H2gl− ligand is bonded to four Na+ ions. The H2gl− ligands are connected via strong O—H...O hydrogen bonds and these, together with the Na...O interconnections, are responsible for the formation of polymeric sheets which propagate in the directions of the b and c axes