Two novel compounds [Zn(bitmb)(L)]center dot 2H(2)O and [Co(bitmb)(L)]center dot 2H(2)O are prepared under hydrothermal conditions (bitmb = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene; H2L = 1,3-bis-(4-carboxy-phenoxy)propane) and characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both complexes are isostructural and contain 3-fold right-handed helical 1D chains. IR and PXRD spectra, TG curves,...