Monometallic nickel and bimetallic nickel-europium complexes based on oxydiacetic acid and N-heterocyclic ligands

► Two complexes 1, 2 based on oxydiacetate acid and N-heterocyclic ligands are described. ► Compound 1 is a binuclear NiII complex, while 2 shows a NiII-EuIII 2D layer structure. ► Complex 2 is the first heterometallic polymer containing mixed H2oda and dpds ligands. ► The fluorescent and magnetic properties for 1 have been discussed in detail.