The coordiantion compounds [Zn(C 10 H 8 N 2 ) (Cl 2 HCCOO)(H 2 O) 3 ] -Á[Zn(C 10 H 8 N 2 )(Cl 2 HCCOO) 3 ] ? and [Cd(C 10 H 8 N 2 ) 2 (Cl 2 CHCOO) 2 ] were synthesised and characterised by elemental and thermal analysis, IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The complexes are air stable and well-soluble in water. The zinc atoms are five and six coordinated and the cadmium atom is six coordinated. The coordination polyhedra of central atoms can be described as trapezoidal pyramid and octahedron in zinc compound and as rectangular bipyramid strongly distorted towards skew trapezoidal bipyramid in cadmium compound. In both compounds all dichloroacetate groups are monodentate. The bond valences considerations show that all 2,2 0 -bipyridine molecules are bonded almost 2 times stronger than carboxylate groups. In the structure of zinc compound exist O-HÁÁÁO hydrogen bonds and in both structures can be found weak C-HÁÁÁO hydrogen bonds. Additionally, both compounds are pile-stacked by pÁÁÁp interactions. The IR spectra show typical vibrations for chelating 2,2 0 -bipyridine molecules and terminal monodentate carboxylate groups. The thermal decomposition studies show zinc compound decomposes in 4 steps and cadmium compound decomposes in 5 steps with formation of oxides as a final products. The ligands decompose gradually, first dichloroacetates and next 2,2 0 -bipyridine.