Graphical Abstract: By interaction of cobalt(II), nickel(II), or zinc(II) nitrate with 4,5- diphenylimidazole in methanol in solvotermal conditions the new derivative of imidazole (4,5-diphenyl-2-nitroimidazole) and three new coordinative compounds [M(4,5-Ph2ImNO2)2(CH3OH)2] have been synthesized and investigated. Metal ions have a distorted octahedral environment with N2O4. Coordination number of metal is six. Ligand is coordinated to metal ion by one oxygen atom of nitrogroup and one nitrogen atom of imidazole.