
The new tetra(alkali metal) ditantalum undecasulfides A4Ta2S11 (A = Rb, Cs) were prepared at low temperature via the molten-flux method. The crystal structures consist of well separated A+ and [Ta2S11]4- ions. Within the anions, the Ta atoms display a sevenfold coordination by S22- units and S2- anions; the coordination polyhedra can be described as distorted pentagonal bipyramids. Two such bipyramids share common faces, thus forming the [Ta2S11]4- anion.