{[Pb3(CPIDA)2(H2O)3]·　H2O}n　1,　{[Cd3(CPIDA)2(H2O)4]·　5H2O}n　2,　[Cd(HCPIDA)(bpy)(H2O)]n　3　(bpy=4,4′-bipyridine)　and　{[Co3(CPIDA)2(bpy)3(H2O)　4]·2H2O}n　4　were　synthesized　with　N-(4-carboxyphenyl)　iminodiacetic　acid　(H3CPIDA).　In　1,　the　CPIDA3-　ligands　adopt　chelating　and　bridging　modes　with　Pb(II)　to　possess　a　3D　porous　framework.　In　2D-layer　2,　the　CPIDA3-　ligands　display　a　simple　bridging　mode　with　Cd(II).　The　2D　layers　have　parallelogram-shaped　channels　along　a　axis.　With　bpy　ligands,　the　HCPIDA2-　ligands　in　3　show　more　abundant　modes,　but　3　still　displays　a　2D　sheet　on　bc　plane　for　the　unidentate　bpy　molecules.　However,　in　3D-framework　4,　the　bpy　ligands　adopt　bridging　bidentate　at　a　higher　pH　value　and　the　CPIDA3-　ligands　show　bis-bidentate　modes　with　Co(II).　Additionally,　2D　correlation　analysis　of　FTIR　was　introduced　to　ascertain　the　characteristic　adsorptions　location　of　the　carboxylate　groups　with　different　coordination　modes　in　4　with　thermal　and　magnetic　perturbation.　Compounds　1,　2　and　4　exhibit　the　fluorescent　emissions　at　room　temperature.　©　2009　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.