Studies on the molecular construction and structures of M(NO3)2 (M = Cu(II), Ni(II)) complexes with 1,2-bis(dimethyl-3-pyridylsilyl)ethane (L) have been carried out. Formation of each molecular skeleton appears to be primarily associated with a suitable combination of bidentate N-donors of L and coordinating nature of octahedral metal(II) ions: [Cu(NO3)2(L)2] yields a 2-dimensional sheet structure consisting of 44-membered Cu4L4 skeleton whereas [Ni(L)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 produces an interpenetrated 3-dimensional structure consisting of 66-membered cyclohexanoid (M6L6) skeleton. The Cu(II) ion prefers nitrate whereas the Ni(II) ion prefers water molecules as the fifth and the sixth ligands.

Ionic palladium(II) complex containing a long aliphatic chain, [(tmeda)PdL]2(PF6) 4 (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine; L = decylmethylbis(m-pyridyl)silane) allowed to form a puckered submicrosphere morphology without any template or additive. The puckered spheres reversibly adsorb and desorb dioxane molecules. Coligand and cosolvent effects on the formation of submicrospherical morphology were observed.