Hydrothermal conditions promote the condensation of[AsS3](3-) to higher order [AsxSy](n-) oligomers which then bind to metal ions in a variety of ways to produce extended structures. Two novel compounds, (Ph(4)P)(2)[Hg2As4S9] and (Me(4)N)[HgAs3S6], were synthesized hydrothermally at 130 degrees C using mixtures of HgCI2/K3AsS3/2Ph(4)PBr and HgCl2/K3AsS3/2Me(4)NCl respectively in sealed Pyrex tubes. (Ph(4)P)(2)[Hg2As4S9] contains [Hg2As4S9](2n-)(n) macroanions which have a one-dimensional ribbon structure consisting of trigonal planar Hg2+ and [As4S9](6-) units formed by corner sharing [AsS3](3-) units. The (Me(4)N)[HgAs3S6] contains [HgAs3S6](n-)(n) layers made of distorted tetrahedral Hg2+ and polymeric [AsS2](-) units. The Me(4)N(+) cations are located between the layers. [GRAPHICS]