Three new inorganic–organic coordination polymers based on a versatile linking unit 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)acetate (Hima) and divalent Mn(ii), Ni(ii), and Cu(ii) ions, exhibiting two kinds of two dimensionalities with different topological structures, have been prepared in water medium and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Reaction of MnCl₂·4H₂O and Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with Hima yielded neutral two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers [M(ima)₂]_n, M = Mn(ii) 1, and Ni(ii) 2 with isostructural 2D coordination polymers possessing (3,6) topology structures, which further stack into three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular networks through C–H···O weak interactions. However, when Cu(NO₃)₂·4H₂O was used, a neutral 2D coordination polymer [Cu(ima)₂]_n 3 consisting of rhombus units was generated, which showed a 3D supramolecular network through C–H···O weak interactions. Among these polymers, the building block ima anion exhibits different coordination modes. These results indicate that the versatile nature of this flexible ligand, together with the coordination preferences of the metal ions, plays a critical role in construction of these novel coordination polymers. Spectral and thermal properties of these new materials have also been investigated.