In the last decade a number of ternary molybdenum chalcogenides named Chevrel phase compounds, M
xMo
6X
8 (M=metal ion ; X=S, Se and Te), have been investigated. Many of these compounds show properties as superconductors with high upper critical fields. Further, in some cases of M=rare earth elements, the coexistences of magnetism and superconductivity are observed. For these substances, the growth of large single crystals with good quality and the knowledge of the exact chemical composition are essential to the understanding of physical properties. Recently a series of compounds with more complicated structures, i. e. M
xMo
15X
19, MxMo
9X
11 and M
2Mo
6 X
6 (X=S, Se and Te) have also been prepared. Then the problems of these compounds in chemical side became more important. The present article reviews these substances from the viewpoint of crystal structure, crystal growth, nonstoichiometry and bonding character.
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