2,2'-Dimercaptodiethylsulphidenickel(II) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca, with lattice constants a = 9.46 + 0.05, b = 10.93 + 0.05, and c = 28-80 + 0.15 A. The intensities of threedimensional equi-inclination Weissenberg data were estimated visually and the structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier techniques. Refinement of atomic parameters was determined by the method of least squares. The molecules are dimeric with a formula unit Ni2S6CsH16. Each of the nickel atoms in the dimer is surrounded by four sulphur atoms in approximately square-planar arrangement, and one thiol sulphur of each ligand molecule is shared between a pair of nickel atoms forming two sulphur bridges. Ni-S bond lengths vary between 2.15-2.22 A, the bridging bonds being longer than the terminal. The dimeric molecules are bent at the sulphur bridges and the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the sulphur atoms is 82 ° 18'. The bending of the molecule brings the two nickel atoms into unusually close proximity (2.73 A) and the shape of the molecule is discussed in terms of metal-metal bonding and the steric requirements of the ligand.