Syntheses and crystal structures of two uranyl peroxide nanoclusters with a diphosphonate linker ligand.

Two uranyl peroxide nanoclusters with etidronate ligand (L), a U 20 L 10 and a U 26 L 6 , have been synthesized via self-assembly in aqueous solutions and structurally investigated. Two uranyl peroxide nanoclusters with etidronate ligand [L = (PO 3) 2 C(OH)CH 3 ]4−] have been prepared via self-assembly in aqueous solutions and structurally characterized. K 40 [(UO 2) 20 (O 2) 20 L 10 ]· n H 2 O (1) has a barrel-shaped structure constructed by linking two pentagonal and one decagonal uranyl peroxide rings with ten etidronate ligands. K 38 [(UO 2) 26 (O 2) 33 L 6 ]· n H 2 O (2) has a round top and flat bottom structure constructed by linking a double connected pentagonal uranyl peroxide unit (U 8) and a dome-shaped uranyl peroxide unit (U 18) with six etidronate ligands. The presence of uranyl ion, peroxide and etidronate ligands has been confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and the role of K+ counter ions on the formation of such clusters has been examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]