The crystal structures and magnetic properties of five new transition metal-azido complexes with two anionic [pyrazine-2-carboxylate (pyzc) and p-aminobenzoate (paba)] and two neutral [pyrazine (pyz) and pyridine (py)] coligands are reported. All five complexes were synthesized by solvothermal methods. The complex [Co2(pyzc)2(N3) 2(H2O)2]n (1) is 1D and exhibit canted antiferromagnetism, while the 3D complex [MnNa(pyzc)(N3) 2(H2O)2]n (2) has a complicated structure and is weakly ferromagnetic in nature. [Mn2(paba) 2(N3)2(H2O)2] n (3), is a 2D sheet and the MnII ions are found to be antiferromagnetically coupled. The isostructural 2D complexes [Cu 3(pyz)2(N3)6]n (4) and [Cu3(py)2(N3)6]n (5) resemble remarkably in their magnetic properties exhibiting moderately strong ferromagnetism. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP functional) have been performed to provide a qualitative theoretical interpretation of the overall magnetic behavior shown by these complexes. {\textcopyright} 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry.