M(II)-coordination polymers (M = Zn and Cd) constructed from 1,2-bis[4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy]ethane and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid

•Four new Zn(II) and Cd(II) coordination polymers were synthesized by a flexible L ligand and BDC co-ligand.•Complexes 1–4 display diverse structures via different conformations of L ligands and coordination modes of BDC ligands.•Photoluminescent properties of complexes 1–4 are investigated.

Four new M(II)-coordination polymers, namely {[Cd(L)(BDC)]·(EtOH)·(DMF)}n (1), {[Zn(L)(BDC)]·(EtOH)·(DMF)}n (2), {[Cd1.5(L)2(BDC)1.5]·0.5(MeOH)·0.5(H2O)}n (3), and [Zn(L)(BDC)]n (4) (L = 1,2-bis[4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy]ethane, H2BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) have been synthesized, and they all were characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses, IR spectra and element analyses. The structural diversity indicates that the different conformations of L ligand and various coordination modes of BDC ligand play a central role in determining the topological structures of 1–4. In addition, the thermal stability and photoluminescent properties of 1–4 were investigated preliminary.