A few coordination chain polymeric assemblies of the type [M(SB)(H 2 O) 2 ] n [M ¼ Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), H 2 SB 1 ¼ 1,1 0 -dihydroxy-2,2 0 -(1-isonitriloethylidyne -4-nitrilomethylidenephenyl)diphenyl or H 2 SB 2 ¼ 1-thio-1 0 -hydroxy-2,2 0 -(1-isonitriloethylidyne-4-nitrilomethylidenephenyl)diphenyl have been investigated. Structural and spectroscopic properties have been studied on the basis of elemental analyses, infrared spectra, 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, electronic spectra, magnetic measurements and thermogravimetric analyses. The Schiff bases act as binegative tetradentate ligands and bonding occur through the nitrogen and oxygen or sulfur atoms. An octahedral geometry has been assigned to all the prepared coordination polymers. The coordination polymers are insoluble in common organic solvents like benzene, acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, chloroform, dimethyl formamide and dimethyl sulphoxide.