Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial studies of 1D hetero-bimetallic coordination polymers of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid with iron and alkaline earth metals

•Hetero-bimetallic coordination polymers were synthesized using s & d block metals.•Thermal stability of compounds was measured by TG-DTG analysis.•Magnetic behaviour was studied using VSM analysis.•The compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity.•XRD studies were carried out to explore supramolecular nature of compounds. Three hetero-bimetallic coordination polymers {[Fe3Ca(PDA)5(H2O)6Cl]n.2nH2O} (1), {[Fe3Sr(PDA)5(H2O)6Cl]n.2nH2O} (2) and {[Fe3Ba(PDA)5(H2O)6Cl]n.2nH2O} (3) (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion) have been synthesized and characterized structurally by FT-IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction study, thermally by TG-DTG analysis and magnetically by VSM analysis. All the complexes are isomorphs with orthorhombic crystal system and exist as one dimensional coordination polymers. Antimicrobial activity of all compounds was investigated against micro-organisms, Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 890), Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231).