The reaction of N, N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine (bicine; bicH(3)) with Cd(O(2)CPh)(2) · 2H(2)O in MeOH yielded the polymeric compound [Cd(2)(O(2)CPh)(2)(bicH(2))(2)](n)(1). The complex crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2. The lattice constants are a = b = 12.737(5) and c = 18.288(7) Å. The compound contains chains of repeating {Cd(2)(O(2)CPh)(2)(bicH(2))(2)} units. One Cd(II) atom is coordinated by two carboxylate oxygen, four hydroxyl oxygen, and two nitrogen atoms from two symmetry-related 2.21111 (Harris notation) bicH(2) (-) ligands. The other Cd(II) atom is coordinated by six carboxylate oxygen atoms, four from two bicH(2) (-) ligands and two from the monodentate benzoate groups. Each bicinate(-1) ligand chelates the 8-coordinate, square antiprismatic Cd(II) atom through one carboxylate oxygen, the nitrogen, and both hydroxyl oxygen atoms and bridges the second, six-coordinate trigonal prismatic Cd(II) center through its carboxylate oxygen atoms. Compound 1 is the first structurally characterized cadmium(II) complex containing any anionic form of bicine as ligand. IR data of 1 are discussed in terms of the coordination modes of the ligands and the known structure.