YbCuZnAs2 crystallizes in the trigonal P3m1 space group. Yb(1) is bonded to three equivalent As(1) and three equivalent As(2) atoms to form YbAs6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra, edges with six equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra, and edges with three equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra. Cu(1) is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to one As(1) and three equivalent As(2) atoms. Zn(1) is bonded to one As(2) and three equivalent As(1) atoms to form distorted ZnAs4 tetrahedra that share corners with six equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra, corners with six equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra, and edges with three equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 19-53°. There are two inequivalent As sites. In the first As site, As(1) is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Yb(1), one Cu(1), and three equivalent Zn(1) atoms. In the second As site, As(2) is bonded to three equivalent Yb(1), three equivalent Cu(1), and one Zn(1) atom to form distorted edge-sharing AsYb3ZnCu3 pentagonal bipyramids.
YbCuZnAs2 crystallizes in the trigonal P3m1 space group. Yb(1) is bonded to three equivalent As(1) and three equivalent As(2) atoms to form YbAs6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra, edges with six equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra, and edges with three equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra. All Yb(1)-As(1) bond lengths are 2.98 Å. All Yb(1)-As(2) bond lengths are 2.97 Å. Cu(1) is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to one As(1) and three equivalent As(2) atoms. The Cu(1)-As(1) bond length is 2.62 Å. All Cu(1)-As(2) bond lengths are 2.47 Å. Zn(1) is bonded to one As(2) and three equivalent As(1) atoms to form distorted ZnAs4 tetrahedra that share corners with six equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra, corners with six equivalent Zn(1)As4 tetrahedra, and edges with three equivalent Yb(1)As6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 19-53°. The Zn(1)-As(2) bond length is 2.53 Å. All Zn(1)-As(1) bond lengths are 2.50 Å. There are two inequivalent As sites. In the first As site, As(1) is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Yb(1), one Cu(1), and three equivalent Zn(1) atoms. In the second As site, As(2) is bonded to three equivalent Yb(1), three equivalent Cu(1), and one Zn(1) atom to form distorted edge-sharing AsYb3ZnCu3 pentagonal bipyramids.