A versatile, optically active, metal organic frame work, Catena-((μ4-dihydrogen oxalate)-bis(μ3-hydrogen oxalato)-(μ2-dihydrogen oxalate)-tetra-aqua-di-rubidium) {Rb(HC2O4)(H2C2O4)(H2O)2}1∞ (CDBDTR), was grown by the process of slow evaporation using water as the solvent. Single XRD showed that the crystal belongs to the triclinic crystal system with the space group P1. The assigned vibrational frequencies of the compound were identified by the FTIR and FT-Raman techniques. The UV–Vis spectrum revealed the cut off wavelength of the crystal to be 233 nm, and due to this low cut off, it occupies a place in optoelectronic devices. Using the UV-spectra, several optical constants were assessed. The surface morphology was studied using HR-SEM analysis. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) confirmed the presence of rubidium in the crystal. The thermal stability of the crystal was investigated using TG/DTA analysis. The dielectric response of the grown crystal has been thoroughly analysed. A photoluminescence study showed that the crystal has a high degree of luminescence, and its single peak emission affirms its highly ordered crystalline nature. The life time was also analysed. The crystal offers adequate resistance to laser radiation with a threshold value of 4.78 GW/cm2. By the Kurtz–Perry technique, the second harmonic generation of the crystal was assessed. The third order nonlinearity was explored using the Z-Scan technique. The figures of merit W and T were calculated in order to find the aptness of the crystal as a promising candidate for optical switching and optical limiting applications. © 2019 The Physical Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan)