The self-assemble of flexible ligand 5,5'-(4,4'-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy)) diisophthalic acid (H4L) and N-donor ligands with the different molecular size, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-bipyrazole (bpz) and 1,10phenanthroline (phen), has generated two new coordination polymers, [Co(L)(0.5)(bpz)center dot 2.5H(2)O](n) (1) and [Mn(H2L)(phen)]n (2). 1 has a 3D twofold interpenetrated 2-nodal 4,4-c network with a Schlafli symbol of (6(4).8(2))(6(6))(2) topology, while 2 exhibits a 2-D grid net, which is further afforded 3D supramolecular motif through pi-pi interactions with 3.65 angstrom between adjacent phen linkers. The influences of various N-donor ligands in assembly of flexible polymers accompany with H4L are also summarized. Photocatalytic studies show that 1 and 2 exhibits efficient degradation activity of organic dye methyl violet (MV). Meanwhile, the possible mechanism of the photocatalytic property has been deduced. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.