The common feature of each of the title 2:1 cocrystals is the formation of the O-HÁÁÁN(pyridyl) hydrogen bonds leading to three-molecule aggregates. The persistent formation of the O-HÁÁÁN(pyridyl) hydrogen bonds where other functionalities are present, e.g. amide, indicates the robustness of this supramolecular synthon. In the structure of the 2:1 4-nitrophenylacetic acid N,N 0 -bis (pyridin-3-ylmethyl)oxalamide cocrystal, (1), the amide-H forms a hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group so that rows of N,N 0 -bis(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)oxalamide molecules are linked into a supramolecular tape via 4-nitrophenylacetic acid molecules. In the N,N 0 -bis(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thioxalamide derivative, (2), the thioamide-H atom only forms an intramolecular N-HÁÁÁS contact. Nevertheless, a supramolecular tape is formed but mediated by C-HÁÁÁO(nitro) interactions. Compound (1) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P¯1 with a = 8.195(2) Å , b = 9.502(3) Å , c = 9.999(3) Å , a = 90.631(3)8, b = 102.796(5)8, c = 108.075(5)8, and Z = 1 (three molecule aggregate). Compound (2) also crystallizes in the triclinic space group P¯1 with a = 8.0772(12) Å , b = 10.2111(12) Å , c = 10.2563(17) Å , a = 71.319(10)8, b = 77.777(11)8, c = 67.660(9)8, and Z = 1 (three molecule aggregate).