Chemical variation and combination of metal ions of different valencies in the oxalate backbone as well as in the tris-bpy cation of the three-dimensional network structures of the type [MII2(ox)3][MII(bpy)3] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, ox = C2O42-), [MIMIII(ox)3][MII(bpy)3] and [MIMIII(ox)3][MIII(bpy)3]ClO4 offer unique opportunities for studying a large variety of photophysical processes. Depending upon the relative energies of the excited states of the chromophores, excitation energy transfer either from the tris-bipyridine cation to the oxalate backbone or vice versa is observed, as for instance from [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as photo-sensitiser to [Cr(ox)3]3- as energy acceptor in the combination [NaCr(ox)3][Ru(bpy)3], or from [Cr(ox)3]3- to [Cr(bpy)3]3+ in [NaCr(ox)3][Cr(bpy)3]ClO4. In addition efficient energy migration within the oxalate backbone is observed. Furthermore, depending upon the excited state redox potentials, light-induced electron transfer processes may be envisaged.