The binary sulfur-carbon compound C 6 S 8 (3H,7H-bis [1,2]dithiolo[3,4-b:3 0 ,4 0 -e][1,4]dithiine-3,7-dithione) was synthesized and characterized in 1993 by Rauchfuss et al. The crystal structure determination (monoclinic, space group P2 1 /c) revealed an essentially planar molecular shape (a-C 6 S 8 ). Repeating the synthetic procedure of Rauchfuss we obtained red crystals of C 6 S 8 in a second crystallographic form (b-C 6 S 8 , tetragonal, space group P 42 1 c). Additionally, the formation of a black, insoluble, amorphous sulfur-carbon polymer with the tentative formula (C 6 S 8 ) n was observed. The molecules in b-C 6 S 8 are angled along the S-S axis of the central 1,4-dithiine ring. The dihedral angle between the two planar C 3 S 5 moieties is 1331. The molecular geometry, IR, Raman and UV spectra of C 6 S 8 are analyzed theoretically at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level and are compared with experimental data. Assignments of vibrations and electronic transitions are made. A C 2 symmetric, bent molecular structure is found for C 6 S 8 , in agreement with the crystal structure of the b-form, which is only a few kJ mol À1 more stable than the planar structure found in the a-C 6 S 8 polymorph. C 6 S 8 is a rare example of a substituted 1,4-dithiine that is structurally characterized in both the planar and bent forms. Scheme 1 The conversion of b-H 2 C 3 S 5 into C 6 S 8 (1) as described by Rauchfuss et al. 1