To determine the influence of metal ion and the auxiliary ligand on the formation of metal-organic frameworks, six new coordination polymers, {[Mn-2(bpdc)(bpy)(3)(H2O)(2)] center dot 2ClO(4) center dot H2O}(n) (1), {[Mn(bpdc) (dpe)] center dot CH3OH center dot 2H(2)O} n (2), {[Cu(bpdc)(H2O2]} n (3), {[Zn(bpdc)(H2O)(2)]}(n) (4), {[Cd(bpdc)(H2O)(3)] center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (5), and {[Co(bpdc)(H2O)(3)] center dot 0.5dpe center dot H2O}(n) (6) (H(2)bpdc = 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dpe = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl) ethylene), have been synthesized and characterized. Compound 1 forms 1D helical chain structure containing two unique Mn-II ions. In 2, the bridging ligand dpe links Mn-bpdc double zigzag chains to generate a layer possesses rectangular cavities. In 3, bpdc(2) ligand connects to three metal centers forming a 2D network. Different from the above compounds, 4 displays a 1D double-wavelike chain. Compound 5 features a helical chain. Compound 6 also displays a helical chain with guest molecule dpe existing in the structure. These diverse structures illustrate rational adjustment of metal ions and the second ligand is a good method for the further design of helical compounds with novel structures and properties. In addition, the magnetic properties of 2, 3 and 6, the thermal stabilities and photoluminescence properties of 4 and 5 were also studied. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.