Four novel coordination polymers: Ag(dpa) I, Co(O3PH)(4,4 ' -bpy)(H2O) II, Zn(O3PH)(4,4 ' -bpy)(0.5) III and Mn[O2PH(C6H5)](2)(4,4 ' -bpy) IV (dpa=2,2 ' -dipyridylamine; 4,4 ' -bpy=4,4 ' -bipyridine), were synthesized by microwave heating and characterized by X-ray crystallography. I crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 11.576(2) Angstrom, b = 5.585(2) Angstrom, c = 15.243(4) Angstrom, beta = 109.00(2)degrees, V = 931.8(3) Angstrom (3). II crystallizes in monoclinic Cc space group with a = 22.477(7) Angstrom, b = 5.280(1) Angstrom, c = 10.404(4) Angstrom, beta = 96.08(3)degrees, V = 1227.8(7) Angstrom (3). III crystallizes in monoclinic P21/c space group with a = 9.758(2) Angstrom, b = 7.449(3) Angstrom, c = 10.277(2) Angstrom, beta = 100.02(2)degrees, V = 735.6(4) Angstrom (3). IV crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2/c with a = 10. 174(1) Angstrom, b = 11.817(3) Angstrom, c = 18.784(4) Angstrom, beta = 102.14(1)degrees, V = 2207.8(8) Angstrom (3). I consists of linear metal-metal chains wrapped by dpa ligands. II and III consist of two-dimensional M-II(O3PH) inorganic sheets cross-linked by 4,4 ' -bpy ligands, while IV is formed by Mn[O2PH(C6H5)](2) sheets cross-linked by 4,4 ' -bpy ligands. I exhibits two-step thermal decomposition at similar to 200 and similar to 250 degreesC, resulting in the reduction of Ag+ to Ag metal. II loses its coordination water at similar to 100 degreesC, leaving vacant coordination sites at Co2+ ions, while the original framework remains intact. The removal of 4,4 ' -bpy in II-IV occurs at elevated temperatures above 250, 200 and 400 degreesC respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.