Three novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) formulated as [Zn2M(BPDC)3(DMF)2]·4DMF (M = CoII1, NiII2 or CdII3; BPDC = 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate; DMF = N,N′-dimethylformamide) have been prepared via solvothermal synthesis from mixtures of the corresponding transition metal salts and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (H2BPDC). The framework structures are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). All three compounds possess essentially the same 2-D layered coordination framework consisting of linear heterotrinuclear secondary building units (SBUs) connected by rigid bridging BPDC ligands. Crystal data: for 1 (C60H66CoN6O18Zn2): monoclinic, space group P21/n, M = 1348.86, a = 20.463(4), b = 14.819(3), c = 23.023(5) Å, β = 111.75(3)°, V = 6484(2) Å3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.382 Mg m−3. For 2 (C60H66N6NiO18Zn2): monoclinic, space group P21/n, M = 1348.64, a = 11.670(2), b = 14.742(3), c = 19.391(4) Å, β = 102.29(3)°, V = 3259.5(11) Å3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.374 Mg m−3. For 3 (C60H66CdN6O18Zn2): monoclinic, space group P21/n, M = 1402.33, a = 11.491(2), b = 14.837(3), c = 19.386(4) Å, β = 101.53(3)°, V = 3238.3(11) Å3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.438 Mg m−3.