Yb(SmS2)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 Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with eight equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. Sm(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted SmS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, corners with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, faces with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. S(1) is bonded to two equivalent Yb(1) and four equivalent Sm(1) atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge, face, and corner-sharing SYb2Sm4 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 18-50°.
Yb(SmS2)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 Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with eight equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. There are four shorter (2.81 Å) and four longer (3.05 Å) Yb(1)-S(1) bond lengths. Sm(1) is bonded to eight equivalent S(1) atoms to form distorted SmS8 hexagonal bipyramids that share corners with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, corners with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, edges with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, faces with four equivalent Yb(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids, and faces with four equivalent Sm(1)S8 hexagonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Sm(1)-S(1) bond distances ranging from 2.81-3.06 Å. S(1) is bonded to two equivalent Yb(1) and four equivalent Sm(1) atoms to form a mixture of distorted edge, face, and corner-sharing SYb2Sm4 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 18-50°.