We propose to investigate the magnetic excitation spectra of tetravalent uranium ions in two isostructural, one-dimesional chains made up by aligned UM2 units, with M = Pt and Pd. Since these two complexes are essentially isostructural and have very similar atomic distances one would in principle expect the spectra to be very similar, but EPR studies of related Gd(III) zero-dimentional complexes seem to suggest that in fact this is not the case. We suggest that this is due to the non-innocent role of the 5d electrons of Pt with respect to the 4d electrons of Pd, thereby adding two atoms to the coordination sphere of U(IV) for the former complex. If verified by inelastic neutron scattering, this could prove the existence of a direct U-Pt bond, as of yet unknown in coordination chemistry.