The synthesis and crystal structure of Na-2(N(CH3)(3)Ph)(5)[Cr(ox)(3)]Cl-2.5H(2)O are described. This is the first member of a new class of microporous layered materials. It has an unusual structure in which the organic cation acts both as a template to produce pores and as a spacer to give a pillared layer structure. While the template occupies some of the holes of the large rings produced by three Na+ and three [Cr(ox)(3)](3-) ions, some of the holes are vacant. All of the pores within a layer have the same chirality, but the chirality alternates between the layers, making the material achiral.