•two new organic templated uranium phosphonates were synthesized•two layered structures comprise UO7 pentagonal bipyramids and PO3C tetrahedra•two compounds exhibit characteristic green light emission of UO22 + cationsTwo organic templated uranyl phosphonates (Hbpi)[(UO2)2(H2O)(PO3C6H5)2(HPO3C6H5)] (1) and (H2dib)0.5[UO2(H2O)(Hhedp)] (2) (bpi = 1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-1H-imidazole, dib = 1,4-di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane, H4hedp = 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR and photoluminescent spectroscopy. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been determined to be layered structures constructed by UO7 pentagonal bipyramids and PO3C tetrahedra of phenylphophonate and hedp groups, respectively. Adjacent layers are packed in AA stacking into the supramolecular structure, in which protonated bpi and dib molecules fill and compensate the negative charge of 1 and 2, respectively. Photoluminescence studies indicate that the two complexes exhibit characteristic green light emission of uranyl cations.Two new organic templated uranyl phosphonates, (Hbpi)[(UO2)2(H2O)(PO3C6H5)2(HPO3C6H5)] (1) and (H2dib)0.5[UO2(H2O)(Hhedp)] (2) (bpi = 1-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-1H-imidazole, dib = 1,4-di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane, H4hedp = 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid) are hydrothermally synthesized. Both layered structures feature the UO7 pentagonal bipyramid and PO3C tetrahedra of the two phosphonate ligands. Photoluminescence studies indicate that the two complexes exhibit characteristic emission from UO22 + cations.

Two one-dimensional uranium oxyflourides, (C15N2H14)UO2F3 (1) and (CH3NH2CH3)2.5(UO2)2F6.5·0.5H2O (2), have been synthesized and characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and photoluminescent spectroscopy. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 both feature the UO2F5 pentagonal bipyramid as the basic building unit, but comprise different architectures with 1-(biphenyl-4-yl)-1H-imidazole (bpi) and dimethylamine (dma) as the organic templates, respectively. Photoluminescence studies indicate that the two complexes exhibit characteristic green light emission of UO22 + cations.Two new uranium oxyflourides, (C15N2H14)UO2F3 (1) and (CH3NH2CH3)2.5(UO2)2F6.5·0.5H2O (2), both feature the UO2F5 pentagonal bipyramid as the basic building unit, but comprise different linear architectures. Photoluminescence studies indicate that the two complexes exhibit characteristic green light emission of UO22 + cations.Highlights► Two new one-dimensional uranium oxyflourides were synthesized. ► Both of the two complexes feature the UO2F5 pentagonal bipyramid as the basic building unit, but comprise different chains. ► Two compounds exhibit characteristic green light emission of UO22 + cations.