Two novel coordination polymers, namely, [Cu3(qptc)2(H2O)3]·3.5H2O·3Me2NH (1) together with [Cu3(qptc)2(H2O)4]·5H2O (2) (H4qptc is
1,1′:4′,1″:4″,1‴-quaterphenyl-2,4,2″,4″-tetracarboxylic acid), were produced under a hydrothermally condition using the rigid aromatic multicarboxylic acid ligand. Structural analysis results indicated that compound 1 exists in a triclinic
space group of P-1 and displays a 4,8-linked 3-D open structure containing the trinuclear nickel Cu3 secondary building units (SBUs), which exists in scu topology with (44 · 62) and (416 · 612) point symbols.
And the complex 2 exists in a monoclinic space group of C2/c and displays a 3-D structure involving Cu3 SBUs, which exists in flu topology with (46) and (412 · 612 · 84) point symbols. Moreover, the novel
complexes’ bio-activities against obstructive jaundice in liver cancer was investigated, and the specific mechanism was discussed. The expression of the bile acid receptor, farnesoid X receptor, on liver cancer cells was tested by Western blot analysis. Wnt–catenin activity activation
in liver cancer cells was tested through exploiting RT-PCR.