2,6-Bis[N,N-di(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (Hbpmp) has afforded dinuclear Mn(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with two bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNP-) ions, [M-2(bpmp)(bnp)(2)]ClO4 (M = Mn (1), Ni (2), Zn (3)). The structure of 1 center dot 2MeCN has been determined by the single crystal X-ray method. It has a dinuclear core structure bridged by the phenolic oxygen atom of bpmp(-) and two BNP- ions. Each metal center has a pseudo octahedral geometry with an average Mn-to-donor bond distance of 2.207 angstrom. Physicochemical properties of 1-3 are studied and their relevance to biological phosphodiesterase is discussed.