The reaction of 5 sulfosalicylic acid (H 3 SSA) with o phenanthroline (Phen), NaOH, and MCl 2 (M=Zn, Cu) affords Zn(H SSA)(Phen)(H 2O) 2 (1) and Cu(H SSA)(Phen)(H 2O) 2 (2), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, fluorescence spectra and single crystal X ray diffraction analysis. The X ray diffraction analyses reveal that compounds 1 and 2 are isostructure. The 5 sulfosalicylic acid ligand loses two protons at the sulfo group and carboxylic group during the reaction. The Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions are six coordinated and adopt distorted octahedral geometry, which are surrounded by two N atoms from Phen, two O atoms from two water molecules, one O atom from —SO 3 group and one oxygen from carboxylic group of the other H SSA. Compounds 1 and 2 have unprecedented one dimensional linear chain formed by a repeating mononuclear structural unit, which is bridged by H SSA. The fluorescence intensity of 1 and 2 is stronger than that of Phen and H 3 SSA at 400 nm. The lowest excited single states of these complexes are assigned as mainly Phen localized 1(π,π *). The antibacterial activity test shows that compounds 1 and 2 strongly inhibit the growth of Streptococcus haemolyticus, Straphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . The reaction of 5 sulfosalicylic acid (H 3 SSA) with o phenanthroline (Phen), NaOH, and MCl 2 (M = Zn, Cu) affords Zn H 2 O) 2 (2), respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, fluorescence spectra and single crystal X ray diffraction analysis. The X ray diffraction analyzes reveal that the compounds 1 and 2 The isostructure. The 5 sulfosalicylic acid ligand loses two protons at the sulfo group and the carboxylic group during the reaction. The Zn (II) and Cu (II) ions are six coordinated and adopt distorted octahedral geometry, which are surrounded by two N atoms from Phen, two O atoms from two water molecules, one O atom from -SO 3 group and one oxygen from carboxylic group of the other H SSA. Compounds 1 and 2 have been one-dimensional linear chain formed by repeating mononuclear structural unit, which is bridged by H SSA. The fluorescence intensity of 1 and 2 is stronger than that of Phen and H 3 SSA at 400 nm. The lowest excited single states of these complexes are assigned as mainly Phen localized 1 (π, π *). The antibacterial activity test shows that compounds 1 and 2 strongly inhibit the growth of Streptococcus haemolyticus, Straphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.