All chemicals purchased were of reagent grade and used without further purification. Elemental analyses (C, H, and N) were performed on a Perkin-Elmer 2400CHN Elemental Analyzer. FT-IR spectra were recorded in the range 400 - 4000 cm⁻¹ on an Alpha Centaurt FT/IR Spectrophotometer as KBr pellets. The emission/excitation spectra were recorded on a Varian Cary Eclipse spectrometer. TGA experiments were performed from room temperature to 700˚C using a Perkin-Elmer TG-7 analyzer under nitrogen at a heating rate of 10˚C/min.

3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (15.4 g), ethanol (53 ml), and sulphuric acid (4 ml) were mixed and refluxed for 6 - 7 h. The excess ethanol was removed under vacuum, and then extracted by ethylacetate. The extracted solution was washed by water for one time, and an other time by NaHCO₃, after drying by Na₂SO₄ the solvent was evaporated. To 20 mmol (3.64 g) of the product, 40 mmol (6.5 g) of 4-pycolyl chloride hydrochloride and 120 mmol (4.8 g) of NaOH and 10 mls DMF were added, the mixture was heated at 70˚C for 10 h., then the product was washed by ethanol and filtered. The solid product was transferred to 100 ml round bottom flask, 50 ml of 5% NaOH solution was added and refluxed under 70˚C for 5 hours, after transferred into 400 ml beaker, 50 ml of distilled water was added, then concentrated HCL was added drop by drop, at pH = 6, light brown precipitate was obtained, washed by ethanol and filtered. Yield: 72%. Calcd (%) for C₁₉H₁₆N₂O₄ (336.11): C, 67.85; H, 4.79; N, 8.33%. Found: C, 67.91; H, 4.98; N, 8.2.

A mixture of NiCl₂∙6H₂O (0.030 mmol, 0.072 g), pmb (0.20 mmol, 0.073 g), NaOH (0.6 mmol 0.024 g) and (8 ml) distilled water was heated in sealed Teflon lined steal at 150˚C for three days, then cooled to room temperature at a rate of 10˚C/h. Green block crystals were obtained. Yield: 54%. Elemental analysis calcd (%) for C₃₈H₃₄N₄O₁₄Ni (829.39): C, 55.03; H, 4.13; N, 6.76%. Found: C, 54.98; H, 4.09; N, 6.72.6.

Suitable single crystal with approximate dimensions 0.31 × 0.26 × 0.24 mm (1), was mounted on a glass fiber and used for X-ray diffraction analyses. Data were collected at 293(2) K on a Bruker ApexII CCD diffractometer using the ω scan technique with Mo Kα radiation (ʎ = 0.71069 Å). Absorption corrections were applied using the multi-scan technique [33]. The structures were solved by the Direct Method and refined by full-matrix least-square techniques on F2 using SHLXL-97 [34].

A summary of crystal data, experimental details and refinement results for compounds 1 - 2 are listed in Table 1. Selected bond lengths and angles for 1 - 2 are given in Table 2 Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with a formula [Ni(µ-pmb)₂(H₂O)₂]_n. The asymmetric unit contains one central Ni atom, two pmb ligands and two water molecules as shown in Figure 1. The Ni atom is six-coordinated by tw oxygen atoms of different carboxylate groups from two pmb ligands with Ni–O(1) = 2.05 Å and two nitrogen atoms of different pmb in a distance of 2.116 Å and two oxygen atoms of different water molecules (Ni–O(3) = 2.094 Å), to form a distorted octahedral geometry. Adjacent Ni atoms are linked by two pmb ligands to form a neutral 1D zigzag polymeric chain spanning along the a-axis (Figure 2). The distance between each two neighboring Ni atoms intersecting the circuit made by two pmb moieties is 11.979 Å. The uncoordinated pyridyl rings are oriented up- or down-side with respect to the Ni atom in the apexes of the zigzag chain, this orientation plays an important role in the packing into a higher network through hydrogen bonding interactions. It should be mentioned that adjacent chains recognize each other through the very short hydrogen bond between the oxygen atom of water molecule in the chain and the nitrogen of pyridyl ring in the adjacent chain (bond length is 2.77 Å and oxygen atoms of different carboxylate groups from two pmb ligands with Ni–O(1) = 2.05 Å and twonitrogen atoms of different pmb in a distance of 2.116 Å and two oxygen atoms of different watermolecules (Ni–O(3) = 2.094 Å), to form a distorted octahedral geometry. Adjacent Ni atoms are linked by two pmb ligands to form a neutral 1D zigzag polymeric chain spanning along the a-axis (Figure 2). The distance between each two neighboring Ni atoms intersecting the circuit made by two pmb moieties is 11.979 Å. The uncoordinated

Symmetry codes: for 1 #1 −x + 1, y, −z + 3/2; #2 x, −y + 1, z − 1/2; #3 x, −y + 1, z + 1/2; for 2 #1 −x + 1, y, −z + 3/2; #2 −x + 1, −y, −z + 2; #3 x, y − 1, z; #4 x, y + 1, z.

pyridyl rings are oriented up- or down-side with respect to the Ni atom in the apexes of the zigzag chain, this orientation plays an important role in the packing into a higher network through hydrogen bonding interactions. It should be mentioned that adjacent chains recognize each other through the very short hydrogen bond between the oxygen atom of water molecule in the chain and the nitrogen of pyridyl ring in the adjacent chain (bond length is 2.77 Å and N–H∙∙∙O angle is 152.67˚) (Figure 3(a)), and C–H∙∙∙π interaction between the phenyl ring and the hydrogen of pyridyl ring. These interactions are of lengths vary between 3.2 - 3.6 Å.). The angle between the coordinated water molecules (O(3)–Ni–O(3)) is 96.47˚, so the extension via hydrogen bond interactions occurs in the b and c-axis converting the 1D zigzag chain into a three dimensional network with rectangular grid of dimensions = 12.06 × 17.85 Å parallel to the ab-plane (Figure 3(b)). It is interesting to note that despite the presence of such large sized voids no interpenetration is observed.

The IR spectra of complex 1 show the absorption bands of the skeletal vibrations of the aromatic rings appear in the 1616 - 1382 cm⁻¹ region and strong broadened band at 3414 cm⁻¹ due to the presence of water ligands [35].

To estimate the stability of the supramolecular architecture, thermogravimetric analyses experiments of complexe 1 was carried out in the temperature range of 50˚C - 900˚C. As shown in (Figure 4), the framework of complex 1 is stable up

to 358˚C. A rapid weight loss can be detected from 358˚C to 510˚C. That is attributed to the complete decomposition of the organic ligands.