Three new transition metal(II) coordination complexes constructed from two different dicarboxylates (1,3-H2BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-H2NDC = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid) and two bis(pyridyl)-bis(amide) ligands (3-bpcd = N,N'-bis(3-pyridyl)cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxamide, 3-bpod = N,N'-bis(3-pyridyl)octandiamide), [Zn(1,3-BDC)(3-bpcd)(0.5)(H2O)]center dot H2O (1), [Zn(1,3-BDC)(3-bpod)(0.5)(H2O)] (2) and [Co(1,4-NDC)(3-bpod)(1.5)(H2O)] (3) have been synthesized in the hydrothermal environments and structurally characterized by IR, TG and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 possess the similar 1D ladder-like chain based on [Zn(1,3-BDC)](n) zigzag chain and the bidentate ligands 3-bpcd/or 3-bpod. Complex 3 shows a 2D layered structure with a 5-connected {4(10)} topology, which consists of 1D linear [Co(1,4-NDC)](n) chain and [Co(3-bpod)(1.5)](n) chain with alternating arrangement of 3-bpod ligands and Co-2(3-bpod)(2) dinuclear loops. The adjacent 1D chains for 1-2 or the 2D layers for 3 are further extended into 2D or 3D supramolecular frameworks through the hydrogen bonding interactions. Additionally, the solid state fluorescent properties for the title complexes 1-3, the fluorescent sensing behaviors of complexes 1-2 and the electrochemical behaviour of complex 3 have been investigated. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.