Self-assemblies of Co(II) or Zn(II) salts with 1-((benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,3-imidazole (bmi) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,4-H 2 bdc) gave rise to two new isostructural complexes, [Co(bmi) 2 (bdc)] n (1) and [Zn(bmi) 2 (bdc)] n (2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination shows that both complexes possess similar chain structure, in which two carboxylate groups of each bdc 2-anion coordinate to metal ions with chelating mode and the bmi groups hang at both sides of the chains with monodentate mode. Complexes 1 and 2 are further extended to 3-D supramolecular structures by p-p interaction and intermolecular force. IR spectra, PXRD patterns, fluorescent properties and thermostability of both complexes have been investigated.