Polycrystalline zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) has been obtained for the first time by an ion exchange reaction between solid alpha-Li2SnO3(low-temperature modification) and a melt of ZnCl2 . KCl at 350 degrees C for 48 h. The X-ray diffraction data show that the phase obtained has an ilmenite-type structure (space group R-3, alpha = 5.2835 Angstrom, c = 14.0913 Angstrom, Z = 6). The success of the synthesis strongly depends on the structure type of the solid precursor and the thermal conditions of the ion exchange reaction.