Four new cadmium(II) and zinc(II) coordination polymers {[Zn(btrp)(SIP)][Zn-0.5(H2O)(3)]}(n) (1), {[Cd-1.5(btrp) (SIP)(H2O)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (2), {[Cd-1.5(btrb)(SIP)(H2O)(3)]center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (3), {[Zn-1.5(btrb)(1.5)(SIP)(H2O)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (4) (btrp = 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) propane, btrb = 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) butane, NaH2SIP = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compound 1 possesses an infinite 1D ladder-like chain structure with [Zn(H2O)(6)](2+) trapped in the pores, which is further interconnected by pi ... pi interactions to lead to a 2D supramolecular architecture. Compounds 2 and 3 features two similar 2D layer structures, and the resulting 2D structures are interconnected by hydrogen-bond interactions to lead to 3D supramolecular architectures. Compound 4 is a 2D parallel ladder structure, and through the interpenetrating btrb ligand, it constructs into 3D architectures. Luminescence analyses were performed on all the four compounds, which show strong fluorescent emissions in the solid state at room temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.