In a series of nine group 12 metal complexes of 2,6-pyridinediylbis(3-pyridinyl)methanone (abbreviated as L), namely, [ 8), and [Hg(L) 2 (CH 3 CO 2 ) 2 ] ∞ (9), the semirigid multidentate ligand L exhibits flexible ligation modes I−IV in response to the cooperative effect of counteranions and solvent medium, leading to mononuclear (1−4), helical-chain (6), zigzag-chain (7), and 3D net (5) coordination motifs. The presence of the ancillary aqua ligand is essential for the crystallization of 3 and 5 by addition of deionized water to an organic mixed-solvent medium containing 2 and 4, respectively. The acetate complexes 7 (Cd 2+ ), 8 (Zn 2+ ), and 9 (Hg 2+ ) are isostructural. Unconventional anion−π(pyridine), CO•••CO, O(NO 3 − /ClO 4 − )••• CO, and cohesive nitrate•••nitrate interactions are manifested in supramolcular aggregations of the present series of crystalline complexes.