Two new photoluminescent compounds with the formulas of [Eu-2(adipate)(3)(H2O)].H2O (1) and [Eu-2(adipate)(3)(4H(2)O)] (2) were synthesized by using Eu(III) chloride and adipic acid under hydrothermal reaction conditions in aqueous solution. Compound 1, a 3-D layered framework, possesses infinite Eu-O-Eu polyhedral chains and self-assembled adipate ligands between Eu-O layers. Compound 2 has dimeric Eu2O16 units interconnected by adipate ligand, resulting in 2-D open frameworks with a cavity among the ligands. Crystal data 1: monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 14.2486(12) Angstrom, b = 8.2733(7) Angstrom, c = 39.298(2) Angstrom, beta = 99.530(6) degrees, and Z = 8.2: monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 11.661(4) Angstrom, b = 14.011(3) Angstrom, c = 9.013(4) Angstrom, beta = 110.87(3) degrees, and Z = 2. The ligand conformations of two Eu(III)-adipate (1 and 2) compounds present anti/anti/anti, gauche/anti/gauche, and intermediate forms. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed strong red luminescence upon excitation, and their luminescence decay involves the multiphonon relaxation mechanism.