The new 1D coordination polymer, [Cd(Clphtpy)(NCS)(NO 3 )] n (Clphtpy = 4 -chlorophenyl-2,2 :6 ,2 -terpyridine), was prepared and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, 1 H NMR-, IR spectroscopy and analyzed structurally by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. X-ray crystallography data showed that the asymmetric unit of complex comprised an independent mononuclear cadmium complex with a seven-coordinate "CdN 4 O 2 S" core. The complex was tested against four gram-positive and four gram-negative bacteria. It exhibited good activity against most of the bacteria and its activity was better than gentamicin as a standard antibiotic. The luminescence properties of the free ligand and the complex were investigated.