Two novel cyano-bridged heteropolynuclear complexes, [Zn(mprd) 2 Ni(l-CN) 4 ] n (1) and {[Cd(mprd) 2 Ni (l-CN) 4 ]Á2H 2 O} n (2), (mprd = 4-methylpyrimidine), have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal analyses (TG, DTG and DTA) and elemental analyses. The crystal structure of the 1 was determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic, space group C2/c. The crystal structure of 1 consists of a corrugated 2D network in which the Zn(II) and Ni(II) atoms are linked by cyanide groups. The Ni(II) atom is four coordinate with four carbon atoms in a square-planar geometry; and, the Zn(II) atom is six coordinate with four cyanide-nitrogen and two mprd-nitrogen atoms with a distorted octahedral geometry. The shifts of the cyano stretching vibration are evidence for the formation of cyano bridges. Vibration assignments are given for all the observed bands and the spectral features support the structure of the polymeric complexes.