This review gives an overview on the coordination chemistry of eight cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acids, i.e. cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,3,5- and 1,2,4-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4,5-cyclohexanetetracarboxylic acid and 1,2,3,4,5,6cyclohexanehexacarboxylic acid, and explores their possible applications in materials science, especially as magnetic materials. The conformational transformation of cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acids in the presence of various metal ions under hydrothermal conditions is included and the a-proton removal mechanism is discussed as well. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.