Two complexes, [Cd(nphth)(2,2'-bipy)(H2O)](2)center dot 2H(2)O (1) and [Cd(nphth)(4,4'-bipy)(H2O)](n), (2) (nphth = 3-nitrophthalate, 2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine), were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions and structurally characterized. Complex 1 crystallizes in triclinic with space group P (1) over bar, a = 0.7599(4), b = 1.0551(6), c = 1.2448(6) nm, alpha = 88.96(2), beta = 75.40(2), gamma = 76.76(2)degrees, V = 0.9393(9) nm(3), Z = 1, D-c = 1.816 Mg/m(3), F(000) = 512, mu = 1.217 mm(-1), S = 0.946, the final R = 0.0238 and wR = 0.0631. Complex 2 crystallizes in monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 0.737(5), b = 2.338(1), c = 1.0030(6) nm, beta = 96.359(9)degrees, V = 1.803(2) nm(3), Z = 4, D-c = 1.826 Mg/m(3), F (000) = 984, mu = 1.260 mm(-1), S = 1.016, the final R = 0.0455 and wR = 0.1007. Complex 1 exhibits a discrete cyclic binuclear structure and complex 2 possesses a 2D layer structure with cyclic binuclear unit. The fluorescent spectrum study shows that complex 1 exhibits fluorescent emission in the solid state at room temperature.