# Synthesis, Topological, and Biological Studies of a Novel One‐Dimensional Hg(II) Coordination Polymer With Antibacterial and Anticancer Potentials

## TL;DR

A new mercury-based coordination polymer was created and shown to have antibacterial and anticancer properties.

## Contribution

The synthesis and characterization of a novel one-dimensional mercury coordination polymer with antibacterial and anticancer potentials.

## Key findings

- The coordination polymer exhibits antibacterial activity comparable to standard antibiotics.
- It shows selective anticancer activity by destroying cancer cells while preserving normal cells.
- The structure features two types of mercury centers with distinct coordination geometries.

## Abstract

A novel one‐dimensional mercury coordination polymer (CP), identified as [(μ2‐Cl)(Ina)Hg(μ3‐Cl)Hg(μ2‐Cl)2(Ina)]n (1) (where Ina represents isonicotinic acid or 4‐pyridinecarboxylic acid), was synthesized via the interaction of isonicotinic acid with mercury(II) salt. This synthesis was achieved through two distinct experimental approaches: layering methods for the formation of single crystals (1) and sonochemical irradiation for the production of nanostructures (1′). The structural characterization of (1) was performed using X‐ray diffraction and crystallography techniques. Further characterization involved a range of methods, including X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Hirshfeld surface analysis (HSA). The CP of (1) features two types of metal centers, exhibiting coordination numbers of 5 and 6. In this structure, each mercury atom is coordinated to chlorine, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms derived from the ligands. Additionally, antibacterial properties were tested on seven Gram‐positive bacteria and nine Gram‐negative bacteria. Anticancer properties were tested on both OCAR3 (cancer) and VERO (normal) cells; as a result, the antibacterial and anticancer activities of nanoparticle [(μ2‐Cl)(Ina)Hg(μ3‐Cl)Hg(μ2‐Cl)2(Ina)]n (1′) were evaluated, revealing that the antibacterial efficacy of the nanoparticles was comparable to that of standard antibiotics. The anticancer properties were effective in destroying cancer cells while preserving the integrity of normal cells. Consequently, both antibacterial and anticancer properties demonstrated promising results.