A new one dimensional (1D) coordination polymer, [Cd(NPTA)(1,10 phen)(H 2 O)] n (1) (H 2 NPTA = 4 nitrophthalic acid; 1,10 phen = 1,10 phenanthroline monohydrate), has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, single crystal X ray diffraction, solid state emission spectra, FT IR spectra, and thermogravimetric analyses. The compound belongs to tri clinic system with space group P , and exhibits a one dimensional linear chain. Each Cd with a strongly dis torted octahedral coordination geometry is six coordinated by two N atoms from one 1,10 phenanthroline ligand, three O atoms from two carboxylate groups of two different NPTA 2ligands and one O atoms from lattice water. Layer supramolecular architecture is formed by medium π-π stacking interactions between two neighboring phenanthroline rings from two independent linear chains. Studies on luminescent property of 1 exhibit the solid state emission originating from an intra ligand π → π* transition of NPTA 2ligand.