The crystal structures of 3,5,5'-tfichloro-2,2'-bithiophene (I) and 3,3',5,5'-tetrachloro-2,2'-bithiophene (II) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both I and II crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system. ForI, a = 3.895(2), b = 11.928(2), c = 10.701(2),~, /3 = 97.70(1) ~ space group P21, Z = 2 and for II, a = 8.942(2), b = 3.900(2), c = 15.180(2),~, /3 ---92.30(1) ~ space group P2Jn, Z = 2. The structures have been solved by direct methods and all nonhydrogen atoms refined with anisotropic thermal parameters. For I the final residual is 0.035 (all 1185 independent reflections, MoKa radiation) and for II, 0.034 (all 1209 independent reflections, MoKc~ radiation). Both I and II have the anti conformation but I has a torsion angle of 3.4(5) ~ between the two thiophene rings while II is completely planar.