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This paper compares variations on a structure model derived from an X-ray diffraction data set from a solid solution of chalcogenide derivatives of cis -1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethylene, namely, 1,2-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(diphenylphoshpine sulfide/selenide), C 26 H 22 P 2 S 1.13 Se 0.87 . A sequence of processes are presented to ascertain the composition of the crystal, along with strategies for which aspects of the model to inspect to ensure a chemically and crystallographically realistic structure. Criteria include mis-matches between F obs 2 and F calc 2 , plots of | F obs | vs | F calc |, residual electron density, checkCIF alerts, pitfalls of the OMIT command used to suppress ill-fitting data, comparative size of displacement ellipsoids, and critical inspection of interatomic distances. Since the structure is quite small, solves easily, and presents a number of readily expressible refinement concepts, we feel that it would make a straightforward and concise instructional piece for students learning how to determine if their model provides the best fit for the data and show students how to critically assess their structures. 

A novel synthesis of diphenyl(2-thienyl)phosphine, along with its’ oxide, sulfide and selenide derivatives, is reported here. These phosphines have been characterized by NMR, IR, MS and X-Ray crystallography. The phosphine oxide derivative was reacted with a selection of lanthanide( iii ) nitrates and triflates, LnX 3 , to give the resultant metal–ligand complexes. These complexes have also been characterized by NMR, IR, MS and X-Ray crystallography. Single crystal X-Ray diffraction data shows a difference in metal–ligand complex stoichiometry and stereochemistry depending on the counteranion (nitrate vs. triflate). The [Ln(Ar 3 PO) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 ] ligand–nitrate complexes are nine-coordinate to the metal in the solid state (bidentate nitrate), featuring a 1 : 3 lanthanide–ligand ratio and bear an overall octahedral arrangement of the six, coordinated ligands. Our [Ln(Ar 3 PO) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 ] ligand–nitrate complexes gave three examples of fac -stereochemistry, where mer -stereochemistry is almost universally observed in the literature of highly related [Ln(Ar 3 PO) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 ] complexes. For the Tb complexes, two different arrangements of the ligands around the metal were observed in the solid state for [Tb(Ar 3 PO) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 ] and [Tb(Ar 3 PO) 4 (OTf) 2 ] [OTf]. [Tb(Ar 3 PO) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 ] is strictly nine-coordinate, ligand mer -stereochemistry in the solid state, and [Tb(Ar 3 PO) 4 (OTf) 2 ] [OTf] is strictly octahedral, six-coordinate, with a square-planar stereochemical arrangement of the phosphine oxide ligands around the metal.