A 1-D coordination polymer catena[mu-fumaratobis(4-cyanopyridine)diaquanickel(II)],[Ni(mu-C4H2O4)(4-CNpy)(2)(H2O)(2)](n) 1 has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 is monoclinic, P2(1)/c with unit cell parameters a = 8.8759(9) angstrom, b = 11.4112(11) angstrom, c = 8.8908(9) angstrom, beta = 106.010(6)degrees, V= 865.6(1) angstrom(3), Z = 2 and D-calc. = 1.600 g cm(-3). The structure refined to R-1 = 0.0245, wR(2) = 0.0626 for all 2014 unique reflections and 152 parameters; GooF = 1.056. It consists of a polymeric chain of nearly octahedral Ni2+ centers bridged by bidentate fumarato ligands. Non-covalent interactions lead these chains to aggregate into an interesting metallosupramolecular assembly. Indexed PXRD pattern, solid state UV-vis-NIR spectral data, thermogravimetric behavior and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data on 1 are presented. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,