Crystal structures of {μ(2)-N,N′-bis­[(pyridin-3-yl)meth­yl]ethanedi­amide}tetra­kis­(di­methyl­carbamodi­thio­ato)dizinc(II) di­methyl­formamide disolvate and {μ(2)-N,N′-bis­[(pyridin-3-yl)meth­yl]ethanedi­amide}tetra­kis­(di-n-propyl­carbamodi­thio­ato)dizinc(II)

The title structures, [Zn(2)(C(3)H(6)NS(2))(4)(C(14)H(14)N(4)O(2))]·2C(3)H(7)NO (I) and [Zn(2)(C(7)H(14)NS(2))(4)(C(14)H(14)N(4)O(2))] (II), each feature a bidentate, bridging bipyridyl-type ligand encompassing a di-amide group. In (I), the binuclear compound is disposed about a centre of inversion, leading to an open conformation, while in (II), the complete mol­ecule is completed by the application of a twofold axis of symmetry so that the bridging ligand has a U-shape. In each of (I) and (II), the di­thio­carbamate ligands are chelating with varying degrees of symmetry, so the zinc atom is within an NS(4) set approximating a square-pyramid for (I) and a trigonal-bipyramid for (II). The solvent di­methyl­formaide (DMF) mol­ecules in (I) connect to the bridging ligand via amide-N—H⋯O(DMF) and various amide-, DMF-C—H⋯O(amide, DMF) inter­actions. The resultant three-mol­ecule aggregates assemble into a three-dimensional architecture via C—H⋯π(pyridyl, chelate ring) inter­actions. In (II), undulating tapes sustained by amide-N—H⋯O(amide) hydrogen bonding lead to linear supra­molecular chains with alternating mol­ecules lying to either side of the tape; no further directional inter­actions are noted in the crystal.