The compounds CsGd2Cu3Se5 and CsTb2Cu3Se5 have been obtained through the reaction of CsCl, Gd2Se3 or Tb2Se3, and Cu2Se at 1123 K. These compounds crystallize in the RbSm2Ag3Se5 structure type with four formula units in the space group Cnicin of the orthorhombic system in cells of dimensions at 153 K of a = 4.1417(3) Angstrom, b = 14.6422(9) Angstrom, c = 17.4543(11) Angstrom, V = 1058.49(12) Angstrom(3) for CsGd2Cu3Se5 and a = 4.1268(4) Angstrom, b = 14.6204(14) Angstrom, c = 17.3390(16) Angstrom, V = 1046.16(17) Angstrom(3) for CsTb2Cu3Se5. This structure consists of ten-membered pentagonal rings in which the alkali-metal atoms are situated. The three-dimensional anionic framework is built from LnSe(6) octahedra and CuSe4 tetrahedra. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.