•Two versatile 3D polymers have been synthesized with d10 metal ions.•IR, PXRD, TG technique for the polymers.•X-ray single-crystal structure analyses and discussion for the polymers.•The polymers exhibit interesting luminescence properties in solid state.Hydrothermal reactions of d10 metal ions (Cd2+ and Zn2+) with 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate acid (1,4-H2NDC) and 4,4′-dipyridyl N,N′-dioxide (4,4′-dpdo) form two three-dimensional grid-like coordination polymers [Cd2(1,4-NDC)2(4,4′-dpdo)]·H2O 1 and [Zn4(μ3-OH)2(1,4-NDC)3(H2O)2](4,4′-dpdo)·2H2O 2. Both coordination polymers were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, XRPD, thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. Polymer 1 exhibits rare alternating arranged 1,4-NDC2− and 4,4′-dpdo spacers between adjacent 1D zigzag chains containing Cd-octahedral coordination geometries. Polymer 2 is constructed from infrequent chair-like [Zn4(μ3-OH)2]6+ inorganic SBUs with four- and six-coordination geometries and only 1,4-NDC2− as “single-bridge” and “double-bridges” to form a 3D framework. Both polymers give strong luminescent emissions in the solid state at room temperature.