Three coordination polymers [Co(L)(2)(SCN)(2)] (1), [Mn(L)(2)(SCN)(2)] (2) and [Cd(H4L)(2)Cl-2] (3), were obtained by the reaction of Co-II, Mn-II, Cd-II salts with di-Schiff base ligand N,N-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-4,4'-biphenylenedimethyleneimine (L) and its reduced form (H4L), respectively and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, complexes 1 and 2 feature 1D hinged chains, while complex 3 has a 2D network structure. Complex 2 was found to show optical limiting property with a 3 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm in DMF solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.