Two new coordination polymers, namely, [Zn(bdc)(mbix)] n ( 1) and {[Cd2(bdc)2(mbix)2] ·H2O} n ( 2) [H2bdc = 5-hydroxylisophthalic acid, mbix = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-yl-methyl)benzene], were obtained under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, as well as powder- and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 exhibits a 2D puckered layer with (4,4) topology, which is further interconnected by hydrogen bonding interactions leading to a 3D supramolecular architecture. Compound 2 features a 5-connected 3D network with bnn (46.64) topology based on the dinuclear CdII subunits. In addition, solid-state properties such as thermal stabilities and photoluminescent properties of compounds 1 and 2 were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]