catena-Poly[[bis-(2-hydr-oxy-2-phenyl-acetato-κO,O)zinc(II)]-μ-1,2-di-4-pyridylethane-κN:N'].

The title compound, [Zn(C(8)H(6)O(3))(2)(C(12)H(12)N(2))](n), consists of [Zn(Hopa)(2)] (H(2)opa = 2-hydr-oxy-2-phenyl-acetic acid or mandelic acid) units bridged by 1,2-di-4-pyridylethane (bpe) ligands, forming a polymeric chain developing parallel to the b axis. The bridging bpe ligand is arranged around a twofold axis passing through the middle of the ethane C-C bond. The geometry around the Zn(II) ion is distorted octa-hedral, constructed by four O atoms from two Hopa(-) ligands and two N atoms from two bridging bpe ligands. O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the chains, forming a three-dimensional network.