Metal directed structural diversity of two coordination polymers and their optical and magnetic properties

► Crystal structure of compound [Cu(5-NIP)2(TBPE)]. ► 1D molecular ladder with metallacyclic platforms. ► Crystal structure of [Zn4(μ3-OH)2(5-NIP)4(TBPE)2]. ► 3D network composed of two tetrahedral and two octahedral Zn(II) centers. ► Magnetically dilute system with large spin-orbit coupling.