The novel 4'-[4-(pyrimidin-5-yl)phenyl]-4,4':6',2"-terpyridine (L-1) ligand reacts with Zn(acac)2 (acac = acetylacetonato) to give the monomeric complex [Zn(acac)2(L1)2] (1) and the coordination polymer [Zn(acac)2(p.-L-1)], (2). The structure of 1 consists of a Zn(II) cation sitting on an inversion centre, surrounded by a slightly elongated octahedral environment, defined by two trans N(4-pyridyl) atoms from a pair of mondentate Ll ligands, and four 0 atoms from two chelating acac anions. The polymeric structure of 2 presents a similar though non-symmetric Zn(acac)2 unit, since the two coordinated N atoms come from two different donor moieties of Li: the 4-pyridyl and the pyrimidinyl. Both compounds present weak C-H center dot center dot center dot N contacts generating 2D aromatic structures, complemented by it " " " it contacts plane-stacking giving raise to 3D structures and further stabilized by C-H center dot center dot center dot O and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.