Template and coordination interactions of 4,4′-bipyridine (Bipy) in nickel(II) complexes of 2-propyl-4,5-dicarboxylate-imidazole

► Two Ni(II) complexes of H3PIDC and Bipy were synthesized by solvent tuned method. ► Bipy ligand acts as template and bridge in 1 and 2, respectively. ► The change of Bipy ligand function due to the change of solvent.