Design, synthesis and coordination chemistry of a new trans-coordinating dipyrimidyl ligand are reported. Sonogashira coupling of 2-iodopyrimidine with 1,2-diethynylbenzene yielded the ligand 1,2-bis(2′-ethynylpyrimidyl)benzene (3), in good yield. Coordination complexes were formed with silver(I) and palladium(II) salts. The X-ray crystallographic characterization of the 1 : 1 complex formed between palladium(II) dichloride and 3, and the 4 : 2 complex formed between silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate and 3 are reported.