A novel polynitrile anionic ligand, tcnoetOH − (=[(NC) 2 CC(OCH 2 CH 2 OH)C(CN) 2 ] − ), has been synthesized by a one-pot reaction from a cyclic acetal and malononitrile. This ligand has been successfully used to prepare, with 4,4′-bpy as co-ligand, a novel series of coordination polymers formulated as [M(tcnoetOH) 2 (4,4′-bpy)(H 2 O) 2 ] with M(II)=Fe (1), Co (2) and Ni (3). These isostructural compounds present a linear chain structure consisting of octahedrally coordinated metal ions bridged by trans 4,4′-bpy ligands. The coordination sphere of the metal ions is completed with two terminal tcnoetOH − ligand and two water molecules. The magnetic properties indicate that the three compounds are paramagnetic, as expected from the long 4,4′-bpy bridge connecting the metal atoms. Their magnetic properties have been fitted with a model of isolated ions including a zero field splitting for the Fe(II) and Ni(II) derivatives.