Blue single crystals of Cu[μ 3 -O 3 P(CH 2 ) 2 COOH]·2H 2 O (1) and Cu[(RS)-μ 3 -O 3 PCH(C 2 H 5 )COOH]·3H 2 O (2) were prepared in aqueous solutions (pH = 2.5-3.5). 1 crystallizes in space group Pbca (no. 61) with a = 812.5(2), b = 919.00(9), and c = 2102.3(2) pm. Cu 2+ is fivefold coordinated by three oxygen atoms stemming from [O 3 P(CH 2 ) 2 COOH] 2anions and two water molecules. The Cu-O bond lengths range from 194.0(3) to 231.8(4) pm. The connection between the [O 3 P(CH 2 ) 2 COOH] 2anions and the Cu 2+ cations yields a polymeric structure with layers parallel to (001). The layers are linked by hydrogen bonds. 2 crystallizes in space group Pbca (no. 61) with a = 1007.17 (14), b = 961.2(3), c = 2180.9(4) pm. The copper cations are surrounded by five oxygen atoms in a square pyramidal fashion 205 with Cu-O bonds between 193.6(4) and 236.9(4) pm. The coordination between [O 3 PCH(C 2 H 5 )COOH] 2and Cu 2+ results in infinite puckered layers parallel to (001). The layers are not connected by any hydrogen bonds. Each layer contains both R and S isomers of the [O 3 PCH(C 2 H 5 )COOH] 2dianion. Water molecules not bound to Cu 2+ are intercalated between the layers. UV/Vis spectra suggest three d-d transition bands at 743, 892, 1016 nm for 1 and four bands at 741, 838, 957, and 1151 nm for 2, respectively. Magnetic measurements suggest a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu 2+ due to a super-superexchange interaction. Thermoanalytical investigations in air show that the compounds are stable up to 95°C (1) and 65°C (2), respectively.