Using ethylenediamine as a template, two one-dimensional (1-D) aluminophosphate compounds [AlP(2)O(8)H][NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)NH(3)] (1) and [AlP(2)O(8)][NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)NH(3)][NH(4)] (2) have been prepared from a gel system: 1.0:x:y:44 Al(i-PrO)(3)-H(3)PO(4)-en-EG (x = 3.0-9.0, y = 1.0-11.0). Compound 1 consists of edge-sharing four-membered ring (MR) chains, denoted as AlPO-ESC, and compound 2 consists of corner-sharing 4-MR chains, denoted as AlPO-CSC. The molar ratio of en:H(3)PO(4) in the starting gel has an important influence on the final product. If en:H(3)PO(4) > or = 1, AlPO-CSC is obtained, while if en:H(3)PO(4) < 1, AlPO-ESC is formed. These two chains can transform to each other upon addition of some extra amount of en or H(3)PO(4) to the reaction mixture in which AlPO-ESC or AlPO-CSC is crystallized. On the basis of XRD and (27)Al and (31)P MAS NMR analyses, a possible chain-to-chain transformation mechanism is proposed. The corner-sharing 4-MR chains of AlPO-CSC, as well as the edge-sharing 4-MR chains of AlPO-ESC can be assembled to 3-D open-framework compound NiAlP(2)O(8).C(2)N(2)H(9) through Ni(2+) cations. It is noted that AlPO-CSC remains in the structure of NiAlP(2)O(8).C(2)N(2)H(9). It is believed that AlPO-ESC might be first transformed to AlPO-CSC followed by the assembly to 3-D open-framework of NiAlP(2)O(8).C(2)N(2)H(9) through Ni(2+) cations.