The factors affecting on the assembly of Ag–H2biim system: size, charge or shape of polyanions?Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional figures, IR, XRPD, TG and additional CV analysis; Tables including selected bond length and bond angles. CCDC reference numbers 779715–7 and 785601. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c1ce05093a

By introducing different polyoxotungstates into the Ag–H2biim system, four new compounds with distinct architectures, Ag2(H2biim)4(W6O19)·2H2O (1), Ag6(H2biim)6(SiW12O40)(OH)2·2H2O (2), Ag6(H2biim)6(PW12O40)(OH)3·H2O (3) and Ag6(H2biim)6(P2W18O62)·12H2O (4) (H2biim = 2,2′-biimidazole), have been hydrothermally synthesized, and characterized by routine physical methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In compound 1, the Lindqvist type polyoxotungstate {W6} combines with the chelate Ag–H2biim complex forming a discrete “dumbbell-like” motif. Isostructural compounds 2and 3are obtained by introducing Keggin polyoxotungstates ({SiW12} and {PW12}, respectively), which show a 2D layer structure. The 2D layers parallel each other to form a 3D supramolecular framework. The larger Wells–Dawson polyoxotungstate {P2W18} directs the formation of compound 4, in which one 2D layer is the inversion of the neighboring ones. Furthermore, there exist infinite Ag chains in compounds 2–4, which are quite unusual in POM-based compounds. The distinction among the final four architectures is ascribed to the structure-directing effect of different polyanions. The electrochemical properties of compounds 1–4are studied. In addition, the antibacterial properties of the four compounds against negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and positive Staphylococcus aureusare investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]