Two novel carboxylate-bridged Cd(II)–orotate polynuclear complexes with 2-(2-ethylamino)pyridine (2-etapy), [Cd(μ-HOr)(2-etapy)] n ( 1), and N, N-diethylethylenediamine ( N, N-eten) ligands, {[Cd(μ-HOr)(H 2O)( N, N-eten)]·H 2O} n ( 2) (H 3Or = orotic acid), have been synthesized and characterized by TGA–evolved gas analysis (TGA–EGA), IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The orotate ligand acts as a bridging ligand with two different coordination modes, showing an unprecedented tetradentate coordination mode. The HOr ligand simultaneously chelates Cd(II) ions through the carboxylate oxygen, deprotonated pyrimidine nitrogen atoms and carboxyl oxygen atoms as a tetradentate ligand in 1. In complex 2, the HOr ligand bridges two Cd(II) ions through the carboxylate oxygen and deprotonated pyrimidine nitrogen atoms and oxygen atom of a carboxylate group of a neighbouring complex unit. Three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structures are generated by hydrogen-bonding, and π···π and C–H···π interactions between the closest chains in both complexes.