In this paper, long flake-like Co(II)-phenylalanine and sphere-like Fe(II)-phenylalanine complexes were successfully synthesized by a refluxing method. The reaction time plays the key role during the whole process of the metal-phenylalanine complexes growth. The intensity of the peaks of metalphenylalanine in photoluminscence spectra increased twice or more compared with that of pure phenylalanine. This synthesis approach is expected to become an appropriate method for preparation of other metal-organism complexes. Published by Elsevier Ltd.