Building unit and topological evolution in the hydrothermal DABCO-U-F system

Compounds NDUF-1 ([C(6)H(14)N(2)](UO(2))(2)F(6); P2(1)/c, a = 6.9797(15) A, b = 8.3767(15) A, c = 23.760(5) A, beta = 91.068(4) degrees, V = 1388.9(5) A(3), Z = 4), NDUF-2 ([C(6)H(14)N(2)](2)(UO(2))(2)F(5)UF(7).H(2)O), NDUF-3 ((NH(4))(7)U(6)F(31); R3, a = 15.4106(8) A, c = 10.8142(8) A, V = 2224.1(2) A(3), Z = 3), and NDUF-4 ([NH(4)]U(3)F(13)) have been synthesized hydrothermally from fixed composition reactant mixtures over variable time periods [DABCO (C(6)H(12)N(2)), UO(2)(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O, HF, and H(2)O; 2-14 days]. Observed is a systematic evolution of the structural building units within these materials from the UO(2)F(5) pentagonal bipyramid in NDUF-1 and -2 to the UF(8) trigonal prism in NDUF-2 and finally to the UF(9) polyhedron in NDUF-3 and -4 as a function of reaction time. Coupled to this coordination change is a reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) as well as a breakdown of the organic structure-directing agent from DABCO to NH(4)(+). These processes contribute to a structural transition from layered topologies (NDUF-1) to chain (NDUF-2), back to layered (NDUF-3), and ultimately to framework (NDUF-4) connectivities. The synthesis conditions, crystal structures, and possible transformation mechanisms within this system are presented.