The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of two N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino (dpa)-substituted aromatic systems (Ar-dpa) 1 (Ar = 4,4'-disubstituted trans-stilbene) and 2 (Ar = 1,4-disubstituted benzene) and their ZnCl2 complexes (1/ZnCl2 and 2/ZnCl2) are rep