International audienceWe report here the synthesis, the crystal structure and the luminescent properties of the new cluster compounds Cs2Mo6Cl14·H2O and Cs2Mo6Br14·H2O. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction performed on Cs2Mo6Cl14·H2O indicates that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with refined cell parameters a = 19.578 Å, b = 15.151 Å, c = 9.347 Å, and β = 115.64°. The structure can be described from discrete [Mo6Cl8iCl6a]2- anionic cluster units arranged in a “A–A’–A–A’” pseudo prismatic stacking parallel to (b, c) plane with both Cs+ cations and water molecules located between the layers. Moreover, the centric character of the trigonal structure of Cs2Mo6Cl14 was also studied by combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and both X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. The results suggest an important influence of the sample preparation on the symmetry of the crystal structure. The crystal structure relationship between the [Mo6Cl8iCl6a]2- anionic cluster unit arrangements in Cs2Mo6Cl14 and Cs2Mo6Cl14·H2O is discussed. Finally, the characterization of the luminescent properties of Cs2Mo6X14 and Cs2Mo6X14·H2O (X = Cl, Br) indicates that emission profile is comparable regardless existence of water molecule in the crystal structure. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York