Comparison of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) coordination polymers with p-toluenesulfonic acid

The reaction of uranium(VI) or thorium(IV) nitrate with p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) in aqueous solutions at room temperature led to the formation of U(VI)/Th(IV) coordination polymers (CPs) with deprotonated µ2-bridging PTS anions. Both [(UO2)(PTS)2(PTSA)]"¢4H2O (1) and Th(PTS)4(H2O)3 (2) have one-dimensional (1D) undulating polymeric structures built with pentagonal bipyramidal uranyl polyhedrons and 9-fold coordinated thorium polyhedrons, respectively, linked through µ2-bridging PTS anions. Both CPs have similar thermal decomposition patterns as they have similar structural type in the presence of the same ligand. Vibrational modes have been investigated and the structural features have been discussed together with relevant structures.