Reaction of sodium azide with manganese(II) and pyridine derivatives such as 2-bzpy, 3-bzpy, and 3,5lut (2-benzoylpyridine, 3-benzoylpyridine, and 3,5-dimethylpyridine, respectively) led to the one-dimensional systems cis-[Mn(2-bzpy)(N3)2] n (1), trans-[Mn(3-Bzpy)2(N3)2] n (2), and cis-[Mn(3,5lut)2(N3)2] n (3). Compound 1 crystallizes in the P21/n group:  a = 14.413(4) Å, b = 16.157(4) Å, c = 18.478(5) Å, and Z = 12. Compound 2 crystallizes in the C2/c group:  a = 14.179(5) Å, b = 9.698(4) Å, c = 34.351(12) Å, and Z = 8. Compound 3 crystallizes in the P21/n group:  a = 13.552(6) Å, b = 7.730(3) Å, c = 16.554(6) Å, and Z = 4. Structural determination shows a chain with double μ1,1 azido bridges for 1, an alternating system with double μ1,1 and μ1,3 azido bridges for 2, and finally a chain with double μ1,3 azido bridges for 3. Susceptibility data show ferromagnetic coupling for 1, antiferromagnetic coupling for 3, and alternating ferro−antiferromagnetic interactions for 2. EPR data measured on powdered samples and single crystals show the ideal Heisenberg narrowing angular dependence for the three kinds of coupled systems and an increasing dipolar broadening mechanism in the order 3 < 2 < 1 according to the decreasing Mn···Mn intrachain distances.

The synthesis and low temperature crystal structures of [Ag(quinoxaline)]n(NO3)n, 1, [Ag(2,5-dimethylpyrazine)(NO3)]n, 2 and [Ag4(3-aminopyridine)4(NO3)4]n 3 are presented. The quinoxaline compound forms a 1D coordination polymer with the characteristic linear 2-coordination figure of silver(I), the N-Ag-N angle being 164.2(1) degrees, and only weak silver-nitrate interactions. In addition there is an interaction giving pairs of parallel chains as the main structural theme. The 2,5-dimethylpyrazine compound has approximately trigonal-planar coordination, also binding one nitrate at the relatively short Ag-O distances 2.444(3) angstroms and 2.484(3) angstroms, respectively, for the two crystallographically different silver atoms. This also results in a 1D coordination polymer that, despite the large differences in the Ag(I) coordination environment, is isostructural with 1. [Ag4(3-aminopyridine)4(NO3)4]n 3 forms a 2D coordination polymer by bridging nitrate ions. The antimicrobial activity of 1-3, and also of [Ag3(2-aminopyridine)4](NO3)3, 4 was screened for 13 different pathogens and substantial activity was shown for 1 against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 4 microg cm(-3)) and somewhat lower activity was registered against Sarcina lutea and Salmonella typhi for 1, Bordetella bronchiseptica for 2, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 3, and Escherichia coli and Shigella sonnie for 3 (MIC 8 microg cm(-3)). Only low activity was shown against the yeast Candida albicans for 1, 2 and 4 whereas no activity against this pathogen was registered for 3.