Sc4(PO4)7 crystallizes in the trigonal P-3 space group. There are three inequivalent Sc sites. In the first Sc site, Sc(1) is bonded to one O(1), one O(5), one O(7), one O(8), and one O(9) atom to form ScO5 square pyramids that share  a cornercorner with one P(1)O4 tetrahedra,  a cornercorner with one P(3)O4 tetrahedra, and corners with three equivalent P(2)O4 tetrahedra. The Sc(1)-O(1) bond length is 2.08 Å. The Sc(1)-O(5) bond length is 2.06 Å. The Sc(1)-O(7) bond length is 2.07 Å. The Sc(1)-O(8) bond length is 2.08 Å. The Sc(1)-O(9) bond length is 2.02 Å. In the second Sc site, Sc(2) is bonded to six equivalent O(2) atoms to form ScO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent P(1)O4 tetrahedra. All Sc(2)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.07 Å. In the third Sc site, Sc(3) is bonded to six equivalent O(3) atoms to form ScO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent P(1)O4 tetrahedra. All Sc(3)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.10 Å. There are three inequivalent P sites. In the first P site, P(1) is bonded to one O(1), one O(2), one O(3), and one O(4) atom to form PO4 tetrahedra that share  a cornercorner with one Sc(2)O6 octahedra,  a cornercorner with one Sc(3)O6 octahedra, and  a cornercorner with one Sc(1)O5 square pyramid. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 39-40°. The P(1)-O(1) bond length is 1.53 Å. The P(1)-O(2) bond length is 1.51 Å. The P(1)-O(3) bond length is 1.54 Å. The P(1)-O(4) bond length is 1.59 Å. In the second P site, P(2) is bonded to one O(5), one O(6), one O(7), and one O(8) atom to form PO4 tetrahedra that share corners with three equivalent Sc(1)O5 square pyramids. The P(2)-O(5) bond length is 1.50 Å. The P(2)-O(6) bond length is 1.58 Å. The P(2)-O(7) bond length is 1.52 Å. The P(2)-O(8) bond length is 1.53 Å. In the third P site, P(3) is bonded to one O(10) and three equivalent O(9) atoms to form PO4 tetrahedra that share corners with three equivalent Sc(1)O5 square pyramids. The P(3)-O(10) bond length is 1.59 Å. All P(3)-O(9) bond lengths are 1.53 Å. There are ten inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(10) is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P(3) atom. In the second O site, O(1) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(1) and one P(1) atom. In the third O site, O(2) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(2) and one P(1) atom. In the fourth O site, O(3) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(3) and one P(1) atom. In the fifth O site, O(4) is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P(1) atom. In the sixth O site, O(5) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(1) and one P(2) atom. In the seventh O site, O(6) is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P(2) atom. In the eighth O site, O(7) is bonded in a distorted bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(1) and one P(2) atom. In the ninth O site, O(8) is bonded in a distorted bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(1) and one P(2) atom. In the tenth O site, O(9) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Sc(1) and one P(3) atom. Linkers: 14 [O]P([O])([O])=O. Metal clusters: 8 [Sc]. The MOF has largest included sphere 4.30 A, density 1.78 g/cm3, surface area 2998.61 m2/g, accessible volume 0.16 cm3/g