The imidazole-based dicarboxylate ligand 2-(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H 3 PyPhIDC), was synthesized and its coordination chemistry was studied. Solvothermal reactions of Ca II , Mn II , Co II , and Ni II ions with H 3 PyPhIDC produced four coordination polymers, (3)], and {[Ni(μ 3 -HPyPhIDC)(H 2 O)]·H 2 O} n (4). Compounds 1-4 were analyzed by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Compound
593(1D) infinite chain. Compounds 2 and 3 are of similar structure, showing 2D network structures with a (4,4) topology based on trinuclear clusters. Compound 4 has another type of 2D network structure with a 3-connected (4.8 2 ) topology. The results revealed that the structural diversity is attributed to the coordination numbers and geometries of metal ions as well as the coordination modes and conformations of H 3 PyPhIDC. Moreover, the thermogravimetric analyses of all the compounds as well as luminescence properties of the H 3 PyPhIDC ligand and compound 1 were also studied.