A new class of M(II)–Hg(II) (M=Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II)) mixed-metal coordination polymers, Cu(2-pyrazinecarboxylate)2HgCl2 (4), [Co(2-pyrazinecarboxylate)2(HgCl2)2] · 0.61H2O (5) and [Ni(2-pyrazinecarboxylate)2(HgCl2)2] · 0.77H2O (6), have been prepared by self assembly of metal-containing building blocks, M(2-pyrazinecarboxylate)2 · (H2O)2 (M=Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II)), with HgCl2. Compounds 4–6 were characterized fully by IR, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 4 crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c, with a=17.916(5) Å, b=7.223(2) Å, c=13.335(4) Å, β=128.726(3)°, V=1346.2(6) Å3, Z=4. It contains alternating Hg(II) and Cu(II) metal centers that are cross-linked by 2-pyrazinecarboxylate spacers and chlorine co-ligands to generate a unique three-dimensional Hg(II)–Cu(II) mixed metal framework. Compound 5 crystallized in the triclinic space group P, with a=6.3879(7) Å, b=6.6626(8) Å, c=13.2286(15) Å, α=96.339(2)°, β=91.590(2)°, γ=113.462(2)°, V=511.71(10) Å3, Z=1. Compound 6 also crystallized in the triclinic space group P, with a=6.3543(8) Å, b=6.6194(8) Å, c=13.2801(16) Å, α=96.449(2)°, β=92.263(2)°, γ=113.541(2)°, V=506.67(11) Å3, Z=1. Compounds 5 and 6 are isostructural and in the solid state the Hg(II)⋯M(II)⋯Hg(II) units are connected by Hg2Cl2 linkages to produce a novel M(II)–Hg(II) (MCo(II), Ni(II)) zigzag mixed-metal chain, in which a new type of M–M′–M′–M array was observed. The metal containing building blocks, M(2-pyrazinecarboxylate)2 · (H2O)2 (MCu(II), Co(II), Ni(II)), exhibit different connectivities to HgCl2 depending on the metal cation contained within them.