A uranyl triazole (UO(2))(2)[UO(4)(trz)(2)](OH)(2) (1) (trz = 1,2,4-triazole) was prepared using a mild solvothermal reaction of uranyl acetate with 1,2,4-triazole. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 revealed it contains sheets of uranium-oxygen polyhedra and that one of the U(VI) cations is in an unusual coordination polyhedron that is intermediate between a tetraoxido core and a uranyl ion. This U(VI) cation also forms cation-cation interactions (CCIs). Infrared, Raman, and XPS spectra are provided, together with a thermogravimetric analysis that demonstrates breakdown of the compound above 300 °C. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum of 1 is compared to those of another compound that has a range of U(VI) coordination enviromments.

Three thorium(iv)-based metal-organic hybrid compounds with 2D layered and 3D framework structures exhibiting graphene-like (6,3) sheet topologies were prepared with linkers with threefold symmetry. These compounds contain rare and relatively anisotropic coordination environments for low-valent actinides that are similar to those often observed for high-valent actinide ions.

Transition-metal based polyoxometalate clusters have been known for decades, whereas those built from uranyl peroxide polyhedra have more recently emerged as a family of complex clusters. Here we report the synthesis and structures of six nanoscale uranyl peroxide cage clusters that contain either tungstate or molybdate polyhedra as part of the cage, as well as phosphate tetrahedra. These transition-metal-uranium hybrid clusters exhibit unique polyhedral connectivities and topologies that include 6-, 7-, 8-, 10-, and 12-membered rings of uranyl polyhedra and uranyl ions coordinated by bidentate peroxide in both trans and cis configurations. The transition-metal polyhedra appear to stabilize unusual units built of uranyl polyhedra, rather than templating their formation.

The compound Na(4)[(UO(2))(S(2))(3)](CH(3)OH)(8) was synthesized at room temperature in an oxygen-free environment. It contains a rare example of the [(UO(2))(S(2))(3)](4-) complex in which a uranyl ion is coordinated by three bidentate persulfide groups. We examined the possible linkage of these units to form nanoscale cage clusters analogous to those formed from uranyl peroxide polyhedra. Quantum chemical calculations at the density functional and multiconfigurational wave function levels show that the uranyl-persulfide-uranyl, U-(S(2))-U, dihedral angles of model clusters are bent due to partial covalent interactions. We propose that this bent interaction will favor assembly of uranyl ions through persulfide bridges into curved structures, potentially similar to the family of nanoscale cage clusters built from uranyl peroxide polyhedra. However, the U-(S(2))-U dihedral angles predicted for several model structures may be too tight for them to self-assemble into cage clusters with fullerene topologies in the absence of other uranyl-ion bridges that adopt a flatter configuration. Assembly of species such as [(UO(2))(S(2))(SH)(4)](4-) or [(UO(2))(S(2))(C(2)O(4))(4)](4-) into fullerene topologies with ~60 vertices may be favored by use of large counterions.

Two copper-uranium heterometallic compounds, [(UO2)3Cu(II)O2(C6NO2)5] (1) and [(UO2)Cu(I)(C6NO2)3] (2), have been synthesized by the reaction of uranyl acetate with copper salts in the presence of isonicotinic acid. Both compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, Raman, and UV-vis spectroscopy. In compound 1, interactions between copper and uranium centers occur and result in a three-dimensional pillar layered structure. Compound 1 is also the first example of a heterometallic uranyl organic framework with a trinuclear U3O18 building block. Compound 2 is the first uranyl organic framework that contains monovalent copper, which arises from the reaction of Cu(II) chloride and is assumed to be due to the oxidation of chloride at low pH.