A new compound based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and the quinolone antibacterial pipemidic acid (HPPA), {[Zn(HPPA)2H2O]2[H2ZnW12O40]}⋅9H2O (1), was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and XPRD. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the [ Zn W 12 O 40 ] 6 - clusters and Zn-HPPA complexes constructed both right- and left-double-stranded like DNA helical chains in the title compound, and these helical chains are further connected together forming the fascinating quadruple-stranded helices via sharing the ZnW12 clusters. Note that the compound 1 represents the first example of zinctungstate POMs modified by antibacterial drugs. In addition, the antibacterial properties of the compound 1 were investigated.
