Synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of uranyl malonate monohydrate

Abstract

Uranyl malonate monohydrate [UO₂(mal)(H₂O)], where mal^2– is malonate ion, was synthesized and studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The main structural units are electrically neutral [UO₂(mal)(H₂O)] layers belonging to crystal-chemical group AQ²¹М¹ (A = UO₂²⁺, Q²¹ = mal^2–, M¹ = H₂O) of uranyl complexes. Specific features of the packing of the uranium-containing complexes are discussed on the basis of Voronoi–Dirichlet tessellation. The structural differences between the monohydrate synthesized and the known uranyl malonate trihydrate are considered.