•A new antibacterial Ag complex, Ag(bpiy)2(H2SIP)·(H2O)2, was synthesized.•Silver complex containing 2,2′-bipyridine with the biocompatibility was investigated as antibacterial agent.•The antibacterial activity of the complex was evaluated against the selected bacteria.A new antibacterial complex, Ag(bpiy)2(H2SIP)·2H2O, was synthesized, based on an idea of combining the antibacterial properties of 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) with the biocompatibility of Ag ions and the solubility of 5-sulfoisophthalate (H2SIP−). The complex was fully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, ultraviolet spectra and thermal analyses. The single molecule structure consists of three parts, that is, a metal coordination cation ([Ag(bipy)2]+), an independent anion (H2SIP−) and two solvent water molecules. The antibacterial effects were evaluated by minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and inhibition zone testing. The results indicate that the silver complex has the superior bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis).A biocompatible silver complex containing 2,2′-bipyridine and 5-sulfoisophthalate was synthesized. The antibacterial effects of the complex against the selected bacteria are higher than the commercial antibiotics ampicillin and roxithromycin.

A composite of 1,8,15,22-tetraamino zinc phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) covalently bound to benzoic acid-functionalized graphene (BFG) was used for photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) for the first time. The formation of an amido bond between ZnTAPc and BFG has been confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For photodegradation of RhB in water, the as-prepared ZnTAPc–10% BFG composite exhibits much stronger visible-light catalytic activity than pure ZnTAPc. This effect can be attributed to the high pollutant adsorption performance of ZnTAPc–BFG, the increased light absorption and the effective charge transfer and separation. In addition, the excess BFG (15%) in the composite results in a significant decrease in photocatalytic efficiency, due to the decrease of the adsorption sites and catalytic active centers. The ZnTAPc–10% BFG composite photocatalyst, with high photocatalytic efficiency and reusability, is potentially applicable in environmental purification of organic pollutants.

•Two new 2p–3d–4f heterometallic coordination polymers have been synthesized.•The pyrazoledicarboxylate ligand has been found in two different coordinated modes.•Magnetic properties of the complexes have been investigated in detail.Two new 2p–3d–4f heterometallic coordination polymers, [NaCuGd(pdc)2(H2O)7 ∙ 2H2O]n (1) and [NaCuEu(pdc)2(H2O)7 ∙ 2H2O]n (2), have been synthesized based on 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid (H3pdc). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that complexes 1−2 are isostructural and both of them display an infinite two-dimensional brickwall-like layer structure consisting of three metal ions and bridged pyrazoledicarboxylate ligands. Magnetic properties of the complexes have been investigated in detail. Furthermore, free-ion approximation was used to fit the magnetic data and a good theory-experiment agreement was obtained for both 1 and 2.Complexes 1−2 are isostructural and they both display 2D brickwall-like layer structure with the pyrazoledicarboxylate bridged ligand in two different coordinated modes.