Reactions　of　transition　metal(II)　nitrate　with　2,2＇-biimidazole　and　1,10-phenanthroline　generated　three　new　isostructural　complexes,　[Co(H(2)biim)(3)][Co(H(2)biim)(2)(Pheb)](NO3)(4)center　dot　2CH(3)OH-H2O　(1),　[Ni(H(2)biim)(3)]　[Ni(H(2)biim)(2)(Phen)](NO3)(4)center　dot　3.5H(2)O　(2),　and　[Zn(H(2)biim)(3)][Zn(H(2)biim)(2)(Phen)1(NO3)(4)-4H(2)O　(3)　(H(2)biim　=　2,2＇-biimidazole,　phen　=　1,10-phenanthroline).　These　complexes　were　characterized　by　single-crystal　X-ray　diffraction,　elemental　analysis,　luminescent　spectra　and　thermogravimetric　analysis.　The　crystal　packing　of　the　complexes　show　that　cationic　[M(H(2)biim)(3)](2+)　fragments　are　self-assembled　to　construct　the　2-D　supramolecular　networks　by　hydrogen　bonding　and　pi-pi　interactions.　The　guest　molecule　[M(H(2)biim)(2)phen](2+)　is　well　recognized　by　the　N-H　center　dot　center　dot　center　dot　O　and　O-H　center　dot　center　dot　center　dot　O　hydrogen　bonds.　In　complexes　1-3,　chiral　guest　molecules　recognize　the　chirality　of　the　host　cations　[M(H(2)biim)(3)](2+),　which　are　assembled　into　2-D　nets　with　alternating　Delta　and　Delta　chirality　resulting　in　the　structure　of　racemates.　The　data　observed　in　this　paper　suggest　that　the　diverse　hydrogen　bonding　modes　between　the　nitrate　and　H(2)biim　ligand　identified　here　play　a　crucial　role　in　the　formation　of　1-3.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.