Five novel coordination polymers [Zn(2)(OA)(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)].0.5(4,4'-bipy), [Zn(2)(OA)(dib)(H(2)O)].H(2)O, [Zn(2)(OA)(bbi)(2)].3H(2)O, [Zn(2)(OA)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)] and [Zn(4)(OA)(2)(2,2'-bipy)(2)(H(2)O)].2H(2)O were obtained by hydrothermal reactions of Zn(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O with a V-shaped multicarboxylate ligand 3,3',4,4'-oxydiphthalic acid (H(4)OA) and a series of N-donor ligands, namely 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy), 1,4-di(1-imidazolyl)benzene (dib), 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) (bbi), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bipy). The structures of the complexes were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex exhibits a robust 3D porous structure with uncoordinated 4,4'-bipy molecules filling the cavities. Complexes and show a complicated 3D framework, while complexes and have a 2D network and a 1D helical chain structure, respectively. The results indicate that the multicarboxylate OA(4-) ligand can adopt varied coordination modes in the formation of the complexes and the influence of the N-donor ligand on the structure of the complexes is discussed. The photoluminescence properties of H(4)OA and were studied in the solid state at room temperature. Moreover, nonlinear optical measurements showed that displayed a second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response of 0.5 times of that for urea. The results suggested that the configuration and flexibility of the ligands play a key role in directing the related properties of the complexes.