Yb(CeS2)2 crystallizes in the tetragonal I-42d space group. Yb(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted YbS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with eight equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with eight equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. Ce(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted CeS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, corners with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, faces with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. S(1) is bonded to two equivalent Yb(1) and four equivalent Ce(1) atoms to form a mixture of distorted face, corner, and edge-sharing SYb2Ce4 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 17-50°.
Yb(CeS2)2 crystallizes in the tetragonal I-42d space group. Yb(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted YbS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with eight equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with eight equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. There are four shorter (2.85 Å) and four longer (3.06 Å) Yb(1)-S(1) bond lengths. Ce(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted CeS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, corners with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, faces with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with four equivalent Ce(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Ce(1)-S(1) bond distances ranging from 2.86-3.06 Å. S(1) is bonded to two equivalent Yb(1) and four equivalent Ce(1) atoms to form a mixture of distorted face, corner, and edge-sharing SYb2Ce4 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 17-50°.