A three-dimensional X-ray diffraction analysis of the structure of bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene, (C6Hs)2PC=CP(C6Hs)2, has been carried out. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P21/n with a= 14709, b= 8166, c= 17-836 A, p= 95 ° 13', Z= 4. The parameters determined earlier by Brinkel were refined by a block-diagonal least-squares method with 2717 intensities collected with a Hilger-Watts linear diffractometer. The hydrogen atoms were included in the calculations. The final R value, including all reflexions, was 0.061 (R'=0.0064). The molecule has the expected pyramidal configuration about both phosphorus atoms, but in view of the asymmetric orientation of the benzene rings about the P-C bonds, possesses no symmetry, n-Interaction between the phosphorus atoms and the acetylenic group has been advanced to account for the geometry of the molecule. The torsion angle between the directions of the polar axes of the phosphorus lone-pair orbitals is approximately 90 °. Bond lengths and angles do not differ significantly in the two equivalent parts of the molecule. The mean > P-C(Ph) and > P-C = bond lengths are 1.832 and 1.765/~ respectively, and include an angle of 101.1 ° (e.s.d. 0.004/~, and 0-2°). All benzene rings are essentially planar with some significant inand out-of-plane bendings of the exocyclic bonds. The packing arrangement is described.