The design, synthesis, and complexation characteristics of the bipyridyl ligand 1,2-bis-(2-pyndylethynyl)benzene are described. The X-ray crystallographic characterization of the 1:1 complexes of 1,2-bis(2-pyridylethynyl)benzene with silver(I) triflate and palladium(II) chloride are described. In the X-ray crystal structure of the silver-(1) triflate complex the ligand is essentially planar with negligible distortion compatible with a good fit of the cation in the "cavity" between the pyridine N atoms. Indeed the silver center is almost linear with the N(1)-Ag(1)-N(2) angle of 177.02(10)degrees. The ligand is also essentially planar in the palladium(II) chloride complex with square planar coordination about the palladium with the N(I)-Pd(l)-N(2), Cl(2)-Pd(l)-Cl(2), and N(1)Pd(l)-Cl(2) angles at 179.53(7), 177.17(2), and 90.52(5)degrees, respectively.